Module java.base
Package java.util.concurrent

Class Exchanger<V>

java.lang.Object
java.util.concurrent.Exchanger<V>
Type Parameters:
V - The type of objects that may be exchanged
public classExchanger<V>extendsObject
A synchronization point at which threads can pair and swap elements within pairs. Each thread presents some object on entry to theexchange method, matches with a partner thread, and receives its partner's object on return. An Exchanger may be viewed as a bidirectional form of aSynchronousQueue. Exchangers may be useful in applications such as genetic algorithms and pipeline designs.

Sample Usage: Here are the highlights of a class that uses anExchanger to swap buffers between threads so that the thread filling the buffer gets a freshly emptied one when it needs it, handing off the filled one to the thread emptying the buffer.

 class FillAndEmpty {   Exchanger<DataBuffer> exchanger = new Exchanger<>();   DataBuffer initialEmptyBuffer = ...; // a made-up type   DataBuffer initialFullBuffer = ...;   class FillingLoop implements Runnable {     public void run() {       DataBuffer currentBuffer = initialEmptyBuffer;       try {         while (currentBuffer != null) {           addToBuffer(currentBuffer);           if (currentBuffer.isFull())             currentBuffer = exchanger.exchange(currentBuffer);         }       } catch (InterruptedException ex) { ... handle ...}     }   }   class EmptyingLoop implements Runnable {     public void run() {       DataBuffer currentBuffer = initialFullBuffer;       try {         while (currentBuffer != null) {           takeFromBuffer(currentBuffer);           if (currentBuffer.isEmpty())             currentBuffer = exchanger.exchange(currentBuffer);         }       } catch (InterruptedException ex) { ... handle ...}     }   }   void start() {     new Thread(new FillingLoop()).start();     new Thread(new EmptyingLoop()).start();   } }

Memory consistency effects: For each pair of threads that successfully exchange objects via anExchanger, actions prior to theexchange() in each threadhappen-before those subsequent to a return from the correspondingexchange() in the other thread.

Since:
1.5

  • Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor
    Description
    Creates a new Exchanger.

  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    Waits for another thread to arrive at this exchange point (unless the current thread isinterrupted), and then transfers the given object to it, receiving its object in return.
    exchange(V x, long timeout,TimeUnit unit)
    Waits for another thread to arrive at this exchange point (unless the current thread isinterrupted or the specified waiting time elapses), and then transfers the given object to it, receiving its object in return.

  • Constructor Details

    • Exchanger

      public Exchanger()
      Creates a new Exchanger.

  • Method Details

    • exchange

      public V exchange(V x) throwsInterruptedException
      Waits for another thread to arrive at this exchange point (unless the current thread isinterrupted), and then transfers the given object to it, receiving its object in return.

      If another thread is already waiting at the exchange point then it is resumed for thread scheduling purposes and receives the object passed in by the current thread. The current thread returns immediately, receiving the object passed to the exchange by that other thread.

      If no other thread is already waiting at the exchange then the current thread is disabled for thread scheduling purposes and lies dormant until one of two things happens:

      • Some other thread enters the exchange; or
      • Some other threadinterrupts the current thread.

      If the current thread:

      • has its interrupted status set on entry to this method; or
      • isinterrupted while waiting for the exchange,
      thenInterruptedException is thrown and the current thread's interrupted status is cleared.

      Parameters:
      x - the object to exchange
      Returns:
      the object provided by the other thread
      Throws:
      InterruptedException - if the current thread was interrupted while waiting

    • exchange

      public V exchange(V x, long timeout,TimeUnit unit) throwsInterruptedException,TimeoutException
      Waits for another thread to arrive at this exchange point (unless the current thread isinterrupted or the specified waiting time elapses), and then transfers the given object to it, receiving its object in return.

      If another thread is already waiting at the exchange point then it is resumed for thread scheduling purposes and receives the object passed in by the current thread. The current thread returns immediately, receiving the object passed to the exchange by that other thread.

      If no other thread is already waiting at the exchange then the current thread is disabled for thread scheduling purposes and lies dormant until one of three things happens:

      • Some other thread enters the exchange; or
      • Some other threadinterrupts the current thread; or
      • The specified waiting time elapses.

      If the current thread:

      • has its interrupted status set on entry to this method; or
      • isinterrupted while waiting for the exchange,
      thenInterruptedException is thrown and the current thread's interrupted status is cleared.

      If the specified waiting time elapses thenTimeoutException is thrown. If the time is less than or equal to zero, the method will not wait at all.

      Parameters:
      x - the object to exchange
      timeout - the maximum time to wait
      unit - the time unit of thetimeout argument
      Returns:
      the object provided by the other thread
      Throws:
      InterruptedException - if the current thread was interrupted while waiting
      TimeoutException - if the specified waiting time elapses before another thread enters the exchange