Simplest and understandable example of volatile keyword in Java

Question

I'm reading about volatile keyword in Java and completely understand the theory part of it.

But, what I'm searching for is, a good case example, which shows what would happen if variable wasn't volatile and if it were.

Below code snippet doesn't work as expected (taken from here):

class Test extends Thread {

    boolean keepRunning = true;

    public void run() {
        while (keepRunning) {
        }

        System.out.println("Thread terminated.");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException {
        Test t = new Test();
        t.start();
        Thread.sleep(1000);
        t.keepRunning = false;
        System.out.println("keepRunning set to false.");
    }
}

Ideally, if keepRunning wasn't volatile, thread should keep on running indefinitely. But, it does stop after few seconds.

I've got two basic questions:

• Can anyone explain volatile with example? Not with theory from JLS.
• Is volatile substitute for synchronization? Does it achieve atomicity?

Answer 1

Volatile --> Guarantees visibility and NOT atomicity

Synchronization (Locking) --> Guarantees visibility and atomicity (if done properly)

Volatile is not a substitute for synchronization

Use volatile only when you are updating the reference and not performing some other operations on it.

Example:

volatile int i = 0;

public void incrementI(){
   i++;
}

will not be thread safe without use of synchronization or AtomicInteger as incrementing is an compound operation.

Why program does not run indefinitely?

Well that depends on various circumstances. In most cases JVM is smart enough to flush the contents.

Correct use of volatile discusses various possible uses of volatile. Using volatile correctly is tricky, I would say "When in doubt, Leave it out", use synchronized block instead.

Also:

synchronized block can be used in place of volatile but the inverse is not true.