/*
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 * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
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 * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
 * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
 *
 * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
 * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
 * accompanied this code).
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
 * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
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/*
 * This file is available under and governed by the GNU General Public
 * License version 2 only, as published by the Free Software Foundation.
 * However, the following notice accompanied the original version of this
 * file:
 *
 * Written by Doug Lea with assistance from members of JCP JSR-166
 * Expert Group and released to the public domain, as explained at
 * http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
 */

package java.util.concurrent;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.Queue;

A Queue that additionally supports operations that wait for the queue to become non-empty when retrieving an element, and wait for space to become available in the queue when storing an element.

BlockingQueue methods come in four forms, with different ways of handling operations that cannot be satisfied immediately, but may be satisfied at some point in the future: one throws an exception, the second returns a special value (either null or false, depending on the operation), the third blocks the current thread indefinitely until the operation can succeed, and the fourth blocks for only a given maximum time limit before giving up. These methods are summarized in the following table:

Summary of BlockingQueue methods
Throws exception Special value Blocks Times out
Insert add(e) offer(e) put(e) offer(e, time, unit)
Remove remove() poll() take() poll(time, unit)
Examine element() peek() not applicable not applicable

A BlockingQueue does not accept null elements. Implementations throw NullPointerException on attempts to add, put or offer a null. A null is used as a sentinel value to indicate failure of poll operations.

A BlockingQueue may be capacity bounded. At any given time it may have a remainingCapacity beyond which no additional elements can be put without blocking. A BlockingQueue without any intrinsic capacity constraints always reports a remaining capacity of Integer.MAX_VALUE.

BlockingQueue implementations are designed to be used primarily for producer-consumer queues, but additionally support the Collection interface. So, for example, it is possible to remove an arbitrary element from a queue using remove(x). However, such operations are in general not performed very efficiently, and are intended for only occasional use, such as when a queued message is cancelled.

BlockingQueue implementations are thread-safe. All queuing methods achieve their effects atomically using internal locks or other forms of concurrency control. However, the bulk Collection operations addAll, containsAll, retainAll and removeAll are not necessarily performed atomically unless specified otherwise in an implementation. So it is possible, for example, for addAll(c) to fail (throwing an exception) after adding only some of the elements in c.

A BlockingQueue does not intrinsically support any kind of "close" or "shutdown" operation to indicate that no more items will be added. The needs and usage of such features tend to be implementation-dependent. For example, a common tactic is for producers to insert special end-of-stream or poison objects, that are interpreted accordingly when taken by consumers.

Usage example, based on a typical producer-consumer scenario. Note that a BlockingQueue can safely be used with multiple producers and multiple consumers.

 
class Producer implements Runnable {
  private final BlockingQueue queue;
  Producer(BlockingQueue q) { queue = q; }
  public void run() {
    try {
      while (true) { queue.put(produce()); }
    } catch (InterruptedException ex) { ... handle ...}
  }
  Object produce() { ... }
 }
class Consumer implements Runnable {
  private final BlockingQueue queue;
  Consumer(BlockingQueue q) { queue = q; }
  public void run() {
    try {
      while (true) { consume(queue.take()); }
    } catch (InterruptedException ex) { ... handle ...}
  }
  void consume(Object x) { ... }
 }
class Setup {
  void main() {
    BlockingQueue q = new SomeQueueImplementation();
    Producer p = new Producer(q);
    Consumer c1 = new Consumer(q);
    Consumer c2 = new Consumer(q);
    new Thread(p).start();
    new Thread(c1).start();
    new Thread(c2).start();
  }
 }

Memory consistency effects: As with other concurrent collections, actions in a thread prior to placing an object into a BlockingQueue happen-before actions subsequent to the access or removal of that element from the BlockingQueue in another thread.

This interface is a member of the Java Collections Framework.

Author:Doug Lea
Type parameters:
  • <E> – the type of elements held in this queue
Since:1.5
/** * A {@link Queue} that additionally supports operations that wait for * the queue to become non-empty when retrieving an element, and wait * for space to become available in the queue when storing an element. * * <p>{@code BlockingQueue} methods come in four forms, with different ways * of handling operations that cannot be satisfied immediately, but may be * satisfied at some point in the future: * one throws an exception, the second returns a special value (either * {@code null} or {@code false}, depending on the operation), the third * blocks the current thread indefinitely until the operation can succeed, * and the fourth blocks for only a given maximum time limit before giving * up. These methods are summarized in the following table: * * <table class="plain"> * <caption>Summary of BlockingQueue methods</caption> * <tr> * <td></td> * <th scope="col" style="font-weight:normal; font-style:italic">Throws exception</th> * <th scope="col" style="font-weight:normal; font-style:italic">Special value</th> * <th scope="col" style="font-weight:normal; font-style:italic">Blocks</th> * <th scope="col" style="font-weight:normal; font-style:italic">Times out</th> * </tr> * <tr> * <th scope="row" style="text-align:left">Insert</th> * <td>{@link #add(Object) add(e)}</td> * <td>{@link #offer(Object) offer(e)}</td> * <td>{@link #put(Object) put(e)}</td> * <td>{@link #offer(Object, long, TimeUnit) offer(e, time, unit)}</td> * </tr> * <tr> * <th scope="row" style="text-align:left">Remove</th> * <td>{@link #remove() remove()}</td> * <td>{@link #poll() poll()}</td> * <td>{@link #take() take()}</td> * <td>{@link #poll(long, TimeUnit) poll(time, unit)}</td> * </tr> * <tr> * <th scope="row" style="text-align:left">Examine</th> * <td>{@link #element() element()}</td> * <td>{@link #peek() peek()}</td> * <td style="font-style: italic">not applicable</td> * <td style="font-style: italic">not applicable</td> * </tr> * </table> * * <p>A {@code BlockingQueue} does not accept {@code null} elements. * Implementations throw {@code NullPointerException} on attempts * to {@code add}, {@code put} or {@code offer} a {@code null}. A * {@code null} is used as a sentinel value to indicate failure of * {@code poll} operations. * * <p>A {@code BlockingQueue} may be capacity bounded. At any given * time it may have a {@code remainingCapacity} beyond which no * additional elements can be {@code put} without blocking. * A {@code BlockingQueue} without any intrinsic capacity constraints always * reports a remaining capacity of {@code Integer.MAX_VALUE}. * * <p>{@code BlockingQueue} implementations are designed to be used * primarily for producer-consumer queues, but additionally support * the {@link Collection} interface. So, for example, it is * possible to remove an arbitrary element from a queue using * {@code remove(x)}. However, such operations are in general * <em>not</em> performed very efficiently, and are intended for only * occasional use, such as when a queued message is cancelled. * * <p>{@code BlockingQueue} implementations are thread-safe. All * queuing methods achieve their effects atomically using internal * locks or other forms of concurrency control. However, the * <em>bulk</em> Collection operations {@code addAll}, * {@code containsAll}, {@code retainAll} and {@code removeAll} are * <em>not</em> necessarily performed atomically unless specified * otherwise in an implementation. So it is possible, for example, for * {@code addAll(c)} to fail (throwing an exception) after adding * only some of the elements in {@code c}. * * <p>A {@code BlockingQueue} does <em>not</em> intrinsically support * any kind of &quot;close&quot; or &quot;shutdown&quot; operation to * indicate that no more items will be added. The needs and usage of * such features tend to be implementation-dependent. For example, a * common tactic is for producers to insert special * <em>end-of-stream</em> or <em>poison</em> objects, that are * interpreted accordingly when taken by consumers. * * <p> * Usage example, based on a typical producer-consumer scenario. * Note that a {@code BlockingQueue} can safely be used with multiple * producers and multiple consumers. * <pre> {@code * class Producer implements Runnable { * private final BlockingQueue queue; * Producer(BlockingQueue q) { queue = q; } * public void run() { * try { * while (true) { queue.put(produce()); } * } catch (InterruptedException ex) { ... handle ...} * } * Object produce() { ... } * } * * class Consumer implements Runnable { * private final BlockingQueue queue; * Consumer(BlockingQueue q) { queue = q; } * public void run() { * try { * while (true) { consume(queue.take()); } * } catch (InterruptedException ex) { ... handle ...} * } * void consume(Object x) { ... } * } * * class Setup { * void main() { * BlockingQueue q = new SomeQueueImplementation(); * Producer p = new Producer(q); * Consumer c1 = new Consumer(q); * Consumer c2 = new Consumer(q); * new Thread(p).start(); * new Thread(c1).start(); * new Thread(c2).start(); * } * }}</pre> * * <p>Memory consistency effects: As with other concurrent * collections, actions in a thread prior to placing an object into a * {@code BlockingQueue} * <a href="package-summary.html#MemoryVisibility"><i>happen-before</i></a> * actions subsequent to the access or removal of that element from * the {@code BlockingQueue} in another thread. * * <p>This interface is a member of the * <a href="{@docRoot}/java.base/java/util/package-summary.html#CollectionsFramework"> * Java Collections Framework</a>. * * @since 1.5 * @author Doug Lea * @param <E> the type of elements held in this queue */
public interface BlockingQueue<E> extends Queue<E> {
Inserts the specified element into this queue if it is possible to do so immediately without violating capacity restrictions, returning true upon success and throwing an IllegalStateException if no space is currently available. When using a capacity-restricted queue, it is generally preferable to use offer.
Params:
  • e – the element to add
Throws:
Returns:true (as specified by Collection.add)
/** * Inserts the specified element into this queue if it is possible to do * so immediately without violating capacity restrictions, returning * {@code true} upon success and throwing an * {@code IllegalStateException} if no space is currently available. * When using a capacity-restricted queue, it is generally preferable to * use {@link #offer(Object) offer}. * * @param e the element to add * @return {@code true} (as specified by {@link Collection#add}) * @throws IllegalStateException if the element cannot be added at this * time due to capacity restrictions * @throws ClassCastException if the class of the specified element * prevents it from being added to this queue * @throws NullPointerException if the specified element is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if some property of the specified * element prevents it from being added to this queue */
boolean add(E e);
Inserts the specified element into this queue if it is possible to do so immediately without violating capacity restrictions, returning true upon success and false if no space is currently available. When using a capacity-restricted queue, this method is generally preferable to add, which can fail to insert an element only by throwing an exception.
Params:
  • e – the element to add
Throws:
Returns:true if the element was added to this queue, else false
/** * Inserts the specified element into this queue if it is possible to do * so immediately without violating capacity restrictions, returning * {@code true} upon success and {@code false} if no space is currently * available. When using a capacity-restricted queue, this method is * generally preferable to {@link #add}, which can fail to insert an * element only by throwing an exception. * * @param e the element to add * @return {@code true} if the element was added to this queue, else * {@code false} * @throws ClassCastException if the class of the specified element * prevents it from being added to this queue * @throws NullPointerException if the specified element is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if some property of the specified * element prevents it from being added to this queue */
boolean offer(E e);
Inserts the specified element into this queue, waiting if necessary for space to become available.
Params:
  • e – the element to add
Throws:
/** * Inserts the specified element into this queue, waiting if necessary * for space to become available. * * @param e the element to add * @throws InterruptedException if interrupted while waiting * @throws ClassCastException if the class of the specified element * prevents it from being added to this queue * @throws NullPointerException if the specified element is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if some property of the specified * element prevents it from being added to this queue */
void put(E e) throws InterruptedException;
Inserts the specified element into this queue, waiting up to the specified wait time if necessary for space to become available.
Params:
  • e – the element to add
  • timeout – how long to wait before giving up, in units of unit
  • unit – a TimeUnit determining how to interpret the timeout parameter
Throws:
Returns:true if successful, or false if the specified waiting time elapses before space is available
/** * Inserts the specified element into this queue, waiting up to the * specified wait time if necessary for space to become available. * * @param e the element to add * @param timeout how long to wait before giving up, in units of * {@code unit} * @param unit a {@code TimeUnit} determining how to interpret the * {@code timeout} parameter * @return {@code true} if successful, or {@code false} if * the specified waiting time elapses before space is available * @throws InterruptedException if interrupted while waiting * @throws ClassCastException if the class of the specified element * prevents it from being added to this queue * @throws NullPointerException if the specified element is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if some property of the specified * element prevents it from being added to this queue */
boolean offer(E e, long timeout, TimeUnit unit) throws InterruptedException;
Retrieves and removes the head of this queue, waiting if necessary until an element becomes available.
Throws:
Returns:the head of this queue
/** * Retrieves and removes the head of this queue, waiting if necessary * until an element becomes available. * * @return the head of this queue * @throws InterruptedException if interrupted while waiting */
E take() throws InterruptedException;
Retrieves and removes the head of this queue, waiting up to the specified wait time if necessary for an element to become available.
Params:
  • timeout – how long to wait before giving up, in units of unit
  • unit – a TimeUnit determining how to interpret the timeout parameter
Throws:
Returns:the head of this queue, or null if the specified waiting time elapses before an element is available
/** * Retrieves and removes the head of this queue, waiting up to the * specified wait time if necessary for an element to become available. * * @param timeout how long to wait before giving up, in units of * {@code unit} * @param unit a {@code TimeUnit} determining how to interpret the * {@code timeout} parameter * @return the head of this queue, or {@code null} if the * specified waiting time elapses before an element is available * @throws InterruptedException if interrupted while waiting */
E poll(long timeout, TimeUnit unit) throws InterruptedException;
Returns the number of additional elements that this queue can ideally (in the absence of memory or resource constraints) accept without blocking, or Integer.MAX_VALUE if there is no intrinsic limit.

Note that you cannot always tell if an attempt to insert an element will succeed by inspecting remainingCapacity because it may be the case that another thread is about to insert or remove an element.

Returns:the remaining capacity
/** * Returns the number of additional elements that this queue can ideally * (in the absence of memory or resource constraints) accept without * blocking, or {@code Integer.MAX_VALUE} if there is no intrinsic * limit. * * <p>Note that you <em>cannot</em> always tell if an attempt to insert * an element will succeed by inspecting {@code remainingCapacity} * because it may be the case that another thread is about to * insert or remove an element. * * @return the remaining capacity */
int remainingCapacity();
Removes a single instance of the specified element from this queue, if it is present. More formally, removes an element e such that o.equals(e), if this queue contains one or more such elements. Returns true if this queue contained the specified element (or equivalently, if this queue changed as a result of the call).
Params:
  • o – element to be removed from this queue, if present
Throws:
Returns:true if this queue changed as a result of the call
/** * Removes a single instance of the specified element from this queue, * if it is present. More formally, removes an element {@code e} such * that {@code o.equals(e)}, if this queue contains one or more such * elements. * Returns {@code true} if this queue contained the specified element * (or equivalently, if this queue changed as a result of the call). * * @param o element to be removed from this queue, if present * @return {@code true} if this queue changed as a result of the call * @throws ClassCastException if the class of the specified element * is incompatible with this queue * (<a href="{@docRoot}/java.base/java/util/Collection.html#optional-restrictions">optional</a>) * @throws NullPointerException if the specified element is null * (<a href="{@docRoot}/java.base/java/util/Collection.html#optional-restrictions">optional</a>) */
boolean remove(Object o);
Returns true if this queue contains the specified element. More formally, returns true if and only if this queue contains at least one element e such that o.equals(e).
Params:
  • o – object to be checked for containment in this queue
Throws:
Returns:true if this queue contains the specified element
/** * Returns {@code true} if this queue contains the specified element. * More formally, returns {@code true} if and only if this queue contains * at least one element {@code e} such that {@code o.equals(e)}. * * @param o object to be checked for containment in this queue * @return {@code true} if this queue contains the specified element * @throws ClassCastException if the class of the specified element * is incompatible with this queue * (<a href="{@docRoot}/java.base/java/util/Collection.html#optional-restrictions">optional</a>) * @throws NullPointerException if the specified element is null * (<a href="{@docRoot}/java.base/java/util/Collection.html#optional-restrictions">optional</a>) */
boolean contains(Object o);
Removes all available elements from this queue and adds them to the given collection. This operation may be more efficient than repeatedly polling this queue. A failure encountered while attempting to add elements to collection c may result in elements being in neither, either or both collections when the associated exception is thrown. Attempts to drain a queue to itself result in IllegalArgumentException. Further, the behavior of this operation is undefined if the specified collection is modified while the operation is in progress.
Params:
  • c – the collection to transfer elements into
Throws:
  • UnsupportedOperationException – if addition of elements is not supported by the specified collection
  • ClassCastException – if the class of an element of this queue prevents it from being added to the specified collection
  • NullPointerException – if the specified collection is null
  • IllegalArgumentException – if the specified collection is this queue, or some property of an element of this queue prevents it from being added to the specified collection
Returns:the number of elements transferred
/** * Removes all available elements from this queue and adds them * to the given collection. This operation may be more * efficient than repeatedly polling this queue. A failure * encountered while attempting to add elements to * collection {@code c} may result in elements being in neither, * either or both collections when the associated exception is * thrown. Attempts to drain a queue to itself result in * {@code IllegalArgumentException}. Further, the behavior of * this operation is undefined if the specified collection is * modified while the operation is in progress. * * @param c the collection to transfer elements into * @return the number of elements transferred * @throws UnsupportedOperationException if addition of elements * is not supported by the specified collection * @throws ClassCastException if the class of an element of this queue * prevents it from being added to the specified collection * @throws NullPointerException if the specified collection is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the specified collection is this * queue, or some property of an element of this queue prevents * it from being added to the specified collection */
int drainTo(Collection<? super E> c);
Removes at most the given number of available elements from this queue and adds them to the given collection. A failure encountered while attempting to add elements to collection c may result in elements being in neither, either or both collections when the associated exception is thrown. Attempts to drain a queue to itself result in IllegalArgumentException. Further, the behavior of this operation is undefined if the specified collection is modified while the operation is in progress.
Params:
  • c – the collection to transfer elements into
  • maxElements – the maximum number of elements to transfer
Throws:
  • UnsupportedOperationException – if addition of elements is not supported by the specified collection
  • ClassCastException – if the class of an element of this queue prevents it from being added to the specified collection
  • NullPointerException – if the specified collection is null
  • IllegalArgumentException – if the specified collection is this queue, or some property of an element of this queue prevents it from being added to the specified collection
Returns:the number of elements transferred
/** * Removes at most the given number of available elements from * this queue and adds them to the given collection. A failure * encountered while attempting to add elements to * collection {@code c} may result in elements being in neither, * either or both collections when the associated exception is * thrown. Attempts to drain a queue to itself result in * {@code IllegalArgumentException}. Further, the behavior of * this operation is undefined if the specified collection is * modified while the operation is in progress. * * @param c the collection to transfer elements into * @param maxElements the maximum number of elements to transfer * @return the number of elements transferred * @throws UnsupportedOperationException if addition of elements * is not supported by the specified collection * @throws ClassCastException if the class of an element of this queue * prevents it from being added to the specified collection * @throws NullPointerException if the specified collection is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the specified collection is this * queue, or some property of an element of this queue prevents * it from being added to the specified collection */
int drainTo(Collection<? super E> c, int maxElements); }