What are best practices for working with synchronized?

Working with synchronized in Java is crucial for ensuring thread safety in multithreaded applications. Below are some best practices:

  • Minimize the scope of synchronization: Keep synchronized blocks as small as possible to avoid holding locks for longer than necessary.
  • Use synchronized methods only when necessary: Prefer using synchronized blocks over synchronized methods for finer control.
  • Prefer using higher-level concurrency utilities: Consider using classes from the java.util.concurrent package when possible, such as ReentrantLock, Semaphore, and Executors.
  • Avoid nested locks: Try to avoid holding multiple locks at once to reduce the risk of deadlocks.
  • Consistent locking order: If multiple locks are required, always acquire them in a consistent order to prevent deadlocks.
  • Prefer using immutable objects: If possible, design classes to be immutable as they are inherently thread-safe.

Following these guidelines can help create a more robust and efficient multithreaded application.


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