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Implement Runnable vs Extend Thread in Java
We can create Thread by either by implementing a runnable interface or by extending Thread class. Below are the detailed steps of using both ways to create Thread.
Create a Thread by Implementing a Runnable Interface
If your class is intended to be executed as a thread then you can achieve this by implementing a Runnable interface. You will need to follow three basic steps −
Step 1
As a first step, you need to implement a run() method provided by a Runnable interface. This method provides an entry point for the thread and you will put your complete business logic inside this method. Following is a simple syntax of the run() method −
public void run( )
Step 2
As a second step, you will instantiate a Thread object using the following constructor −
Thread(Runnable threadObj, String threadName);
Where, threadObj is an instance of a class that implements the Runnable interface and threadName is the name given to the new thread.
Step 3
Once a Thread object is created, you can start it by calling start() method, which executes a call to run( ) method. Following is a simple syntax of start() method −
void start();
Example
Here is an example that creates a new thread and starts running it −
class RunnableDemo implements Runnable {
private Thread t;
private String threadName;
RunnableDemo( String name) {
threadName = name;
System.out.println("Creating " + threadName );
}
public void run() {
System.out.println("Running " + threadName );
try {
for(int i = 4; i > 0; i--) {
System.out.println("Thread: " + threadName + ", " + i);
// Let the thread sleep for a while.
Thread.sleep(50);
}
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
System.out.println("Thread " + threadName + " interrupted.");
}
System.out.println("Thread " + threadName + " exiting.");
}
public void start () {
System.out.println("Starting " + threadName );
if (t == null) {
t = new Thread (this, threadName);
t.start ();
}
}
}
public class TestThread {
public static void main(String args[]) {
RunnableDemo R1 = new RunnableDemo( "Thread-1");
R1.start();
RunnableDemo R2 = new RunnableDemo( "Thread-2");
R2.start();
}
}This will produce the following result −
Output
Creating Thread-1 Starting Thread-1 Creating Thread-2 Starting Thread-2 Running Thread-1 Thread: Thread-1, 4 Running Thread-2 Thread: Thread-2, 4 Thread: Thread-1, 3 Thread: Thread-2, 3 Thread: Thread-1, 2 Thread: Thread-2, 2 Thread: Thread-1, 1 Thread: Thread-2, 1 Thread Thread-1 exiting. Thread Thread-2 exiting.
Create a Thread by Extending a Thread Class
The second way to create a thread is to create a new class that extends Thread class using the following two simple steps. This approach provides more flexibility in handling multiple threads created using available methods in Thread class.
Step 1
You will need to override run( ) method available in Thread class. This method provides an entry point for the thread and you will put your complete business logic inside this method. Following is a simple syntax of run() method −
public void run( )
Step 2
Once Thread object is created, you can start it by calling start() method, which executes a call to run( ) method. Following is a simple syntax of start() method −
void start( );
Example
Here is the preceding program rewritten to extend the Thread −
class ThreadDemo extends Thread {
private Thread t;
private String threadName;
ThreadDemo( String name) {
threadName = name;
System.out.println("Creating " + threadName );
}
public void run() {
System.out.println("Running " + threadName );
try {
for(int i = 4; i > 0; i--) {
System.out.println("Thread: " + threadName + ", " + i);
// Let the thread sleep for a while.
Thread.sleep(50);
}
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
System.out.println("Thread " + threadName + " interrupted.");
}
System.out.println("Thread " + threadName + " exiting.");
}
public void start () {
System.out.println("Starting " + threadName );
if (t == null) {
t = new Thread (this, threadName);
t.start ();
}
}
}
public class TestThread {
public static void main(String args[]) {
ThreadDemo T1 = new ThreadDemo( "Thread-1");
T1.start();
ThreadDemo T2 = new ThreadDemo( "Thread-2");
T2.start();
}
}This will produce the following result −
Output
Creating Thread-1 Starting Thread-1 Creating Thread-2 Starting Thread-2 Running Thread-1 Thread: Thread-1, 4 Running Thread-2 Thread: Thread-2, 4 Thread: Thread-1, 3 Thread: Thread-2, 3 Thread: Thread-1, 2 Thread: Thread-2, 2 Thread: Thread-1, 1 Thread: Thread-2, 1 Thread Thread-1 exiting. Thread Thread-2 exiting.
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