How Does the `synchronized` Keyword Ensure Thread Safety in Java Concurrency?

What Role Does 'Synchronized' Play in Concurrency?

Synchronization plays a crucial role in Java when dealing with multiple threads accessing shared resources. Its significance lies in ensuring thread safety and data integrity in such scenarios.

When to Synchronize Methods

Synchronization is essential for methods that:

• Modify or read shared variables
• Create or access shared objects
• Access resources shared with other threads

Programmatic and Logical Implications

Programmatically, the 'synchronized' keyword ensures that only one thread at a time can execute a synchronized method or block of code. Logically, it prevents race conditions and data corruption by guaranteeing that any modification to shared resources is performed sequentially.

For instance, consider a shared variable 'foo' being incremented by two threads simultaneously. Without synchronization, thread 1 might not see the change made by thread 2, resulting in an incorrect final value. However, by synchronizing access to 'foo', we enforce a sequential execution, ensuring that the final value is calculated correctly.

Related Concepts to Explore:

• Concurrency
• Java Memory Model
• Brian Goetz: An authority on Java concurrency

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