ReentrantLock vs. synchronized in Java: A Comprehensive Comparison

source : wikipedia.org

Introduction:

In the complex landscape of concurrent programming in Java, ensuring thread safety is paramount to avoid data corruption and unpredictable behavior. Synchronization mechanisms play a pivotal role in orchestrating the interaction between multiple threads. Among these mechanisms, two stalwarts stand out: ReentrantLock and the synchronized keyword. In this extensive discourse, we embark on a journey through the nuances of these synchronization techniques, dissecting their characteristics, strengths, and implementation intricacies with an abundance of real-world code examples.

Understanding ReentrantLock:

At the heart of Java’s concurrency utilities lies the ReentrantLock class, offering a robust alternative to the traditional synchronization provided by synchronized. The term “Reentrant” signifies that a thread can acquire the lock multiple times without causing a deadlock, facilitating more flexible locking scenarios.

Key Features of ReentrantLock:

Explicit Locking and Unlocking:
The cornerstone of ReentrantLock is its explicit locking and unlocking mechanism, in stark contrast to the implicit locking facilitated by synchronized. Threads must explicitly acquire the lock using the lock() method and release it using…