What does 'synchronized' mean?

Question

I have some questions regarding the usage and significance of the synchronized keyword.

• What is the significance of the synchronized

Answer 1

Synchronized simply means that multiple threads if associated with single object can prevent dirty read and write if synchronized block is used on particular object. To give you more clarity , lets take an example :

class MyRunnable implements Runnable {
    int var = 10;
    @Override
    public void run() {
        call();
    }

    public void call() {
        synchronized (this) {
            for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
                var++;
                System.out.println("Current Thread " + Thread.currentThread().getName() + " var value "+var);
            }
        }
    }
}

public class MutlipleThreadsRunnable {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        MyRunnable runnable1 = new MyRunnable();
        MyRunnable runnable2 = new MyRunnable();
        Thread t1 = new Thread(runnable1);
        t1.setName("Thread -1");
        Thread t2 = new Thread(runnable2);
        t2.setName("Thread -2");
        Thread t3 = new Thread(runnable1);
        t3.setName("Thread -3");
        t1.start();
        t2.start();
        t3.start();
    }
}

We've created two MyRunnable class objects , runnable1 being shared with thread 1 and thread 3 & runnable2 being shared with thread 2 only. Now when t1 and t3 starts without synchronized being used , PFB output which suggest that both threads 1 and 3 simultaneously affecting var value where for thread 2 , var has its own memory.

Without Synchronized keyword

    Current Thread Thread -1 var value 11
    Current Thread Thread -2 var value 11
    Current Thread Thread -2 var value 12
    Current Thread Thread -2 var value 13
    Current Thread Thread -2 var value 14
    Current Thread Thread -1 var value 12
    Current Thread Thread -3 var value 13
    Current Thread Thread -3 var value 15
    Current Thread Thread -1 var value 14
    Current Thread Thread -1 var value 17
    Current Thread Thread -3 var value 16
    Current Thread Thread -3 var value 18

Using Synchronzied, thread 3 waiting for thread 1 to complete in all scenarios. There are two locks acquired , one on runnable1 shared by thread 1 and thread 3 and another on runnable2 shared by thread 2 only.

Current Thread Thread -1 var value 11
Current Thread Thread -2 var value 11
Current Thread Thread -1 var value 12
Current Thread Thread -2 var value 12
Current Thread Thread -1 var value 13
Current Thread Thread -2 var value 13
Current Thread Thread -1 var value 14
Current Thread Thread -2 var value 14
Current Thread Thread -3 var value 15
Current Thread Thread -3 var value 16
Current Thread Thread -3 var value 17
Current Thread Thread -3 var value 18