What is the difference between synchronized and thread-safe?

Can you explain the difference between synchronized and thread-safe?

Sure! 'Synchronized' refers to a method or block of code that can only be accessed by one thread at a time, ensuring that only one thread can execute it. 'Thread-safe', on the other hand, means that a class or method can be safely used by multiple threads simultaneously without causing data corruption.

So, does that mean all synchronized methods are thread-safe?

Yes, all synchronized methods are thread-safe because they prevent multiple threads from executing the same method at the same time. However, not all thread-safe methods are synchronized; there are other ways to achieve thread safety, like using locks or concurrent collections.

Can you give me an example of a thread-safe class?

Certainly! The java.util.concurrent package in Java provides several thread-safe classes, such as ConcurrentHashMap and CopyOnWriteArrayList, which allow safe concurrent access without using synchronized methods.

What are the performance implications of using synchronized methods?

Using synchronized methods can lead to performance bottlenecks, especially if many threads are trying to access the same method. This can cause threads to wait, reducing overall throughput. It's important to use synchronization judiciously.