Concurrency basics · interview question
Given a scenario where multiple threads need to update a shared configuration object, why might 'volatile' not be sufficient to ensure thread safety?
Multiple choiceHardchapter-15-curatedpremiumconcurrencythe-volatile-keyword
Answer and explanation
Correct answer
B. Volatile does not ensure atomic updates to multiple fields
Why
Volatile only ensures visibility of individual field changes but does not provide atomicity for updates involving multiple fields of an object. Synchronization mechanisms are needed to ensure atomic updates in such cases.
Test yourself on Concurrency basics
A free test with instant, explained results. No account needed.
More Concurrency basics questions
- How can you avoid deadlocks when using multiple ReentrantLocks in a method?
- What does the 'volatile' keyword guarantee in Java?
- Why might using 'volatile' alone be insufficient for ensuring thread safety when updating a shared counter?
- Consider the following code snippet. What issue might occur if 'flag' is not declared as 'volatile'?
- When using synchronized blocks, how can you ensure fairness among threads?
- How would you explain a common use case for 'volatile' variables in an interview?