Difference Between Multithreading in Java and Python

Multithreading is a programming technique that allows multiple threads to execute concurrently within a single process. Multithreading is a powerful tool for improving program performance and responsiveness, as it enables a program to take advantage of modern multi-core processors.

Java and Python are two popular programming languages that support multithreading. However, there are some differences in how multithreading is implemented in these two languages. In this article, we will explore the key differences between multithreading in Java and Python and summarize them in a table.

Java Multithreading

Java has built-in support for multithreading through the java.lang.Thread class. Java threads are created by instantiating the Thread class and overriding the run() method. Java also provides a number of utility classes, such as java.util.concurrent.Executor and java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService, to make multithreading easier to use.

Filename: MultithreadingExample.java

public class MultithreadingExample extends Thread {
   public void run() {
      System.out.println("Thread " + Thread.currentThread().getId() + " is running");
   }
   
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
         MultithreadingExample thread = new MultithreadingExample();
         thread.start();
      }
   }
}

Output:

Thread 11 is running
Thread 12 is running
Thread 13 is running
Thread 14 is running
Thread 15 is running

Example 2:

Filename:JavaMultithreadingExample2.java

public class JavaMultithreadingExample2 {
    private static int counter = 0;
    public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException {
        Runnable task = () -> {
            for (int i = 0; i < 10000; i++) {
                synchronized (JavaMultithreadingExample.class) {
                    counter++;
                }
            }
        };


        Thread thread1 = new Thread(task);
        Thread thread2 = new Thread(task);
        thread1.start();
        thread2.start();
        thread1.join();
        thread2.join();
        System.out.println("Counter: " + counter);
    }
}

Output:

Counter: 20000

Features of Java Multithreading

1. Java threads are implemented using native operating system threads, which are lightweight and efficient.
2. Java provides support for thread synchronization and coordination through the synchronized keyword and the wait() and notify() methods.
3. Java provides a number of utility classes, such as java.util.concurrent.atomic and java.util.concurrent.locks, to make thread synchronization easier and more efficient.
4. Java threads can be interrupted using the interrupt() method.

Python Multithreading

Python also has built-in support for multithreading through the threading module. Python threads are created by instantiating the threading.Thread class and overriding the run() method. Python also provides a number of utility classes, such as queue.Queue and concurrent.futures, to make multithreading easier to use.

Filename: multithreading_example.py

import threading
class MultithreadingExample(threading.Thread):
    def run(self):
        print("Thread", threading.current_thread().ident, "is running")
threads = []
for i in range(5):
    thread = MultithreadingExample()
    threads.append(thread)
    thread.start()
for thread in threads:
    thread.join()

Output:

Thread 139857310164224 is running
Thread 139857301771520 is running
Thread 139857293378816 is running
Thread 139857285341952 is running
Thread 139857277492480 is running

Example2:

Filename:threading_example.py

import threading
counter = 0
lock = threading.Lock()
def increment():
    global counter
    for i in range(10000):
        with lock:
            counter += 1
thread1 = threading.Thread(target=increment)
thread2 = threading.Thread(target=increment)
thread1.start()
thread2.start()
thread1.join()
thread2.join()
print("Counter: ", counter)

Output:

Counter: 20000

Features of Python Multithreading

1. Python threads are implemented using operating system threads, which are generally heavier than Java threads and can have more overhead.
2. Python provides support for thread synchronization and coordination through the Lock, RLock, Condition, and Semaphore classes.
3. Python threads can be interrupted using the Thread.interrupt() method.
4. Python has a Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), which prevents multiple threads from executing Python bytecodes simultaneously. This can limit the performance benefits of multithreading in some cases.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between multithreading in Java and Python:

In summary, both Java and Python support multithreading and provide similar features and capabilities. However, there are some differences in how multithreading is implemented in these two languages, particularly in terms of thread synchronization and performance. When choosing between Java and Python for multithreaded applications, it is important to consider these differences and choose the language that best suits your specific needs. multithreading is a powerful tool for improving program performance and responsiveness in both Java and Python. However, it is important to understand the differences in how multithreading is implemented in these two languages, and to choose the appropriate language and approach for your specific application and use case.