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package org.apache.commons.lang3.concurrent;

import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;

A specialized implementation of the ConcurrentInitializer interface based on an AtomicReference variable.

This class maintains a member field of type AtomicReference. It implements the following algorithm to create and initialize an object in its get() method:

  • First it is checked whether the AtomicReference variable contains already a value. If this is the case, the value is directly returned.
  • Otherwise the initialize() method is called. This method must be defined in concrete subclasses to actually create the managed object.
  • After the object was created by initialize() it is checked whether the AtomicReference variable is still undefined. This has to be done because in the meantime another thread may have initialized the object. If the reference is still empty, the newly created object is stored in it and returned by this method.
  • Otherwise the value stored in the AtomicReference is returned.

Because atomic variables are used this class does not need any synchronization. So there is no danger of deadlock, and access to the managed object is efficient. However, if multiple threads access the AtomicInitializer object before it has been initialized almost at the same time, it can happen that initialize() is called multiple times. The algorithm outlined above guarantees that get() always returns the same object though.

Compared with the LazyInitializer class, this class can be more efficient because it does not need synchronization. The drawback is that the initialize() method can be called multiple times which may be problematic if the creation of the managed object is expensive. As a rule of thumb this initializer implementation is preferable if there are not too many threads involved and the probability that multiple threads access an uninitialized object is small. If there is high parallelism, LazyInitializer is more appropriate.

Type parameters:
  • <T> – the type of the object managed by this initializer class
Since:3.0
/** * <p> * A specialized implementation of the {@code ConcurrentInitializer} interface * based on an {@link AtomicReference} variable. * </p> * <p> * This class maintains a member field of type {@code AtomicReference}. It * implements the following algorithm to create and initialize an object in its * {@link #get()} method: * </p> * <ul> * <li>First it is checked whether the {@code AtomicReference} variable contains * already a value. If this is the case, the value is directly returned.</li> * <li>Otherwise the {@link #initialize()} method is called. This method must be * defined in concrete subclasses to actually create the managed object.</li> * <li>After the object was created by {@link #initialize()} it is checked * whether the {@code AtomicReference} variable is still undefined. This has to * be done because in the meantime another thread may have initialized the * object. If the reference is still empty, the newly created object is stored * in it and returned by this method.</li> * <li>Otherwise the value stored in the {@code AtomicReference} is returned.</li> * </ul> * <p> * Because atomic variables are used this class does not need any * synchronization. So there is no danger of deadlock, and access to the managed * object is efficient. However, if multiple threads access the {@code * AtomicInitializer} object before it has been initialized almost at the same * time, it can happen that {@link #initialize()} is called multiple times. The * algorithm outlined above guarantees that {@link #get()} always returns the * same object though. * </p> * <p> * Compared with the {@link LazyInitializer} class, this class can be more * efficient because it does not need synchronization. The drawback is that the * {@link #initialize()} method can be called multiple times which may be * problematic if the creation of the managed object is expensive. As a rule of * thumb this initializer implementation is preferable if there are not too many * threads involved and the probability that multiple threads access an * uninitialized object is small. If there is high parallelism, * {@link LazyInitializer} is more appropriate. * </p> * * @since 3.0 * @param <T> the type of the object managed by this initializer class */
public abstract class AtomicInitializer<T> implements ConcurrentInitializer<T> {
Holds the reference to the managed object.
/** Holds the reference to the managed object. */
private final AtomicReference<T> reference = new AtomicReference<>();
Returns the object managed by this initializer. The object is created if it is not available yet and stored internally. This method always returns the same object.
Throws:
Returns:the object created by this AtomicInitializer
/** * Returns the object managed by this initializer. The object is created if * it is not available yet and stored internally. This method always returns * the same object. * * @return the object created by this {@code AtomicInitializer} * @throws ConcurrentException if an error occurred during initialization of * the object */
@Override public T get() throws ConcurrentException { T result = reference.get(); if (result == null) { result = initialize(); if (!reference.compareAndSet(null, result)) { // another thread has initialized the reference result = reference.get(); } } return result; }
Creates and initializes the object managed by this AtomicInitializer. This method is called by get() when the managed object is not available yet. An implementation can focus on the creation of the object. No synchronization is needed, as this is already handled by get(). As stated by the class comment, it is possible that this method is called multiple times.
Throws:
Returns:the managed data object
/** * Creates and initializes the object managed by this {@code * AtomicInitializer}. This method is called by {@link #get()} when the * managed object is not available yet. An implementation can focus on the * creation of the object. No synchronization is needed, as this is already * handled by {@code get()}. As stated by the class comment, it is possible * that this method is called multiple times. * * @return the managed data object * @throws ConcurrentException if an error occurs during object creation */
protected abstract T initialize() throws ConcurrentException; }