01 /*
02 * Copyright 1994-2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
03 * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
04 *
05 * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
06 * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
07 * published by the Free Software Foundation. Sun designates this
08 * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
09 * by Sun in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
10 *
11 * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
12 * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
13 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
14 * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
15 * accompanied this code).
16 *
17 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
18 * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
19 * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
20 *
21 * Please contact Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara,
22 * CA 95054 USA or visit www.sun.com if you need additional information or
23 * have any questions.
24 */
25
26 package java.lang;
27
28 /**
29 * The <code>Runnable</code> interface should be implemented by any
30 * class whose instances are intended to be executed by a thread. The
31 * class must define a method of no arguments called <code>run</code>.
32 * <p>
33 * This interface is designed to provide a common protocol for objects that
34 * wish to execute code while they are active. For example,
35 * <code>Runnable</code> is implemented by class <code>Thread</code>.
36 * Being active simply means that a thread has been started and has not
37 * yet been stopped.
38 * <p>
39 * In addition, <code>Runnable</code> provides the means for a class to be
40 * active while not subclassing <code>Thread</code>. A class that implements
41 * <code>Runnable</code> can run without subclassing <code>Thread</code>
42 * by instantiating a <code>Thread</code> instance and passing itself in
43 * as the target. In most cases, the <code>Runnable</code> interface should
44 * be used if you are only planning to override the <code>run()</code>
45 * method and no other <code>Thread</code> methods.
46 * This is important because classes should not be subclassed
47 * unless the programmer intends on modifying or enhancing the fundamental
48 * behavior of the class.
49 *
50 * @author Arthur van Hoff
51 * @version 1.32, 05/05/07
52 * @see java.lang.Thread
53 * @see java.util.concurrent.Callable
54 * @since JDK1.0
55 */
56 public interface Runnable {
57 /**
58 * When an object implementing interface <code>Runnable</code> is used
59 * to create a thread, starting the thread causes the object's
60 * <code>run</code> method to be called in that separately executing
61 * thread.
62 * <p>
63 * The general contract of the method <code>run</code> is that it may
64 * take any action whatsoever.
65 *
66 * @see java.lang.Thread#run()
67 */
68 public abstract void run();
69 }
|