What is the difference between synchronized and concurrent structures?

Can you explain the difference between synchronized and concurrent structures?

Sure! Synchronized structures are designed to allow only one thread to access a resource at a time, ensuring thread safety. Concurrent structures, on the other hand, allow multiple threads to access the resource simultaneously, improving performance while still managing access.

Can you give me an example of each?

Of course! An example of a synchronized structure is Collections.synchronizedList() in Java, which wraps a list to make it thread-safe. A concurrent structure example is ConcurrentHashMap, which allows multiple threads to read and write without locking the entire map.

When should I use one over the other?

Use synchronized structures when you need strict control over access to a resource and data integrity is critical. Use concurrent structures when you want better performance and can tolerate some level of inconsistency.

Are there any performance trade-offs?

Yes, synchronized structures can lead to bottlenecks due to locking, while concurrent structures may have overhead from managing multiple threads but generally offer better scalability.