asked on

Object / Thread FAQ

My program as follow:
mainProgram.java
newThread= new myThread("Testing");

In the myThread.java :
public class myThread implements Runnable {

My question is if i write the newThread = null will it kill the object or thread?
E.g.
newThread= new myThread("Testing");
newThread = null ;

thanks

alikoank

No it will not kill a running thread.

Mick Barry

> will it kill the object or thread?

neither

sciuriware

An object is never deleted by "killing" a reference to it.
An object is deleted by the garbage collector at a later time.
And, surely a running thread is referenced from various other places!

;JOOP!

hawkly

ASKER

then how can i kill the thread when it waiting for an IO?

Mick Barry

> And, surely a running thread is referenced from various other places!

The thread above is not running, and so would be available for gc.
So the object *could* get freed at a later time.

Mick Barry

> then how can i kill the thread when it waiting for an IO?

you interrupt it (if the blocking is interruptable.
otherwise one solution is to close the stream the thread is being blocked on

alikoank

Generally speaking you should not kill a thread. Make your thread check for a variable or event periodically and when you want your thread to terminate set this variable / signal an event, so your thread can end its execution gracefully.

hawkly

ASKER

The IO is:
in = httpConnector.openInputStream();

How can i interrupt it?

thanks

Mick Barry

you can try interrupting the thread but i suspoct you may have to close the connection.

hawkly

ASKER

but my problem is how can i close the connection?

Mick Barry

httpConnector.close();

hawkly

ASKER