What is StampedLock in Java?

Question

I am working on a Java code, I need to implement threading in it. I was going through JAVA 8 API and I come to know about Stamped Locks. Can anyone tell me why to use StampedLocks in multithreading?

Answer 1

In addition to @assylias answer:

StampedLock supports upgrading readLock to writeLock using method tryConvertToWriteLock(long):

java doc:

This class also supports methods that conditionally provide conversions across the three modes. For example, method tryConvertToWriteLock(long) attempts to "upgrade" a mode, returning a valid write stamp if (1) already in writing mode (2) in reading mode and there are no other readers or (3) in optimistic mode and the lock is available. The forms of these methods are designed to help reduce some of the code bloat that otherwise occurs in retry-based designs.

code samples:

class Point {
   private double x, y;
   private final StampedLock sl = new StampedLock();

   // an exclusively locked method
   void move(double deltaX, double deltaY) {
     long stamp = sl.writeLock();
     try {
       x += deltaX;
       y += deltaY;
     } finally {
       sl.unlockWrite(stamp);
     }
   }

   // a read-only method
   // upgrade from optimistic read to read lock
   double distanceFromOrigin() {
     long stamp = sl.tryOptimisticRead();
     try {
       retryHoldingLock: for (;; stamp = sl.readLock()) {
         if (stamp == 0L)
           continue retryHoldingLock;
         // possibly racy reads
         double currentX = x;
         double currentY = y;
         if (!sl.validate(stamp))
           continue retryHoldingLock;
         return Math.hypot(currentX, currentY);
       }
     } finally {
       if (StampedLock.isReadLockStamp(stamp))
         sl.unlockRead(stamp);
     }
   }

   // upgrade from optimistic read to write lock
   void moveIfAtOrigin(double newX, double newY) {
     long stamp = sl.tryOptimisticRead();
     try {
       retryHoldingLock: for (;; stamp = sl.writeLock()) {
         if (stamp == 0L)
           continue retryHoldingLock;
         // possibly racy reads
         double currentX = x;
         double currentY = y;
         if (!sl.validate(stamp))
           continue retryHoldingLock;
         if (currentX != 0.0 || currentY != 0.0)
           break;
         stamp = sl.tryConvertToWriteLock(stamp);
         if (stamp == 0L)
           continue retryHoldingLock;
         // exclusive access
         x = newX;
         y = newY;
         return;
       }
     } finally {
       if (StampedLock.isWriteLockStamp(stamp))
         sl.unlockWrite(stamp);
     }
   }

   // Upgrade read lock to write lock
   void moveIfAtOrigin(double newX, double newY) {
     long stamp = sl.readLock();
     try {
       while (x == 0.0 && y == 0.0) {
         long ws = sl.tryConvertToWriteLock(stamp);
         if (ws != 0L) {
           stamp = ws;
           x = newX;
           y = newY;
           break;
         }
         else {
           sl.unlockRead(stamp);
           stamp = sl.writeLock();
         }
       }
     } finally {
       sl.unlock(stamp);
     }
   }
 }

Answer 2

The API documentation for java.util.concurrent.locks.StampedLock says:

StampedLocks are designed for use as internal utilities in the development of thread-safe components. Their use relies on knowledge of the internal properties of the data, objects, and methods they are protecting. They are not reentrant, so locked bodies should not call other unknown methods that may try to re-acquire locks (although you may pass a stamp to other methods that can use or convert it). The use of read lock modes relies on the associated code sections being side-effect-free. Unvalidated optimistic read sections cannot call methods that are not known to tolerate potential inconsistencies. Stamps use finite representations, and are not cryptographically secure (i.e., a valid stamp may be guessable). Stamp values may recycle after (no sooner than) one year of continuous operation. A stamp held without use or validation for longer than this period may fail to validate correctly. StampedLocks are serializable, but always deserialize into initial unlocked state, so they are not useful for remote locking.

e.g. -

 class Point {
   private double x, y;
   private final StampedLock sl = new StampedLock();

   void move(double deltaX, double deltaY) { // an exclusively locked method
     long stamp = sl.writeLock();
     try {
       x += deltaX;
       y += deltaY;
     } finally {
       sl.unlockWrite(stamp);
     }
   }

   double distanceFromOrigin() { // A read-only method
     long stamp = sl.tryOptimisticRead();
     double currentX = x, currentY = y;
     if (!sl.validate(stamp)) {
        stamp = sl.readLock();
        try {
          currentX = x;
          currentY = y;
        } finally {
           sl.unlockRead(stamp);
        }
     }
     return Math.sqrt(currentX * currentX + currentY * currentY);
   }

   void moveIfAtOrigin(double newX, double newY) { // upgrade
     // Could instead start with optimistic, not read mode
     long stamp = sl.readLock();
     try {
       while (x == 0.0 && y == 0.0) {
         long ws = sl.tryConvertToWriteLock(stamp);
         if (ws != 0L) {
           stamp = ws;
           x = newX;
           y = newY;
           break;
         }
         else {
           sl.unlockRead(stamp);
           stamp = sl.writeLock();
         }
       }
     } finally {
       sl.unlock(stamp);
     }
   }
 }

Answer 3

StampedLock is an alternative to using a ReadWriteLock (implemented by ReentrantReadWriteLock). The main differences between StampedLock and ReentrantReadWriteLock are that:

• StampedLocks allow optimistic locking for read operations
• ReentrantLocks are reentrant (StampedLocks are not)

So if you have a scenario where you have contention (otherwise you may as well use synchronized or a simple Lock) and more readers than writers, using a StampedLock can significantly improve performance.

However you should measure the performance based on your specific use case before jumping to conclusions.

Heinz Kabutz has written about StampedLocks in his newsletter and he also made a presentation about performance.