Parallel Streams vs Sequential Processing: Which is Better?

What's the difference between parallel streams and sequential processing?

Parallel streams process multiple elements simultaneously, while sequential processing handles one element at a time.

When should I use parallel streams?

Use parallel streams when dealing with large datasets that can benefit from concurrent processing to improve performance.

Are there any downsides to using parallel streams?

Yes, parallel streams can introduce overhead and may not always lead to performance gains, especially for small datasets.

Can you give an example of when sequential processing is better?

Sequential processing is better for tasks that require order, like reading a file line by line, where each line depends on the previous one.