jaroslav@539: /*
jaroslav@539:  * Copyright (c) 1994, 2005, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
jaroslav@539:  * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
jaroslav@539:  *
jaroslav@539:  * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
jaroslav@539:  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
jaroslav@539:  * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
jaroslav@539:  * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
jaroslav@539:  * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
jaroslav@539:  *
jaroslav@539:  * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
jaroslav@539:  * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
jaroslav@539:  * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
jaroslav@539:  * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
jaroslav@539:  * accompanied this code).
jaroslav@539:  *
jaroslav@539:  * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
jaroslav@539:  * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
jaroslav@539:  * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
jaroslav@539:  *
jaroslav@539:  * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
jaroslav@539:  * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
jaroslav@539:  * questions.
jaroslav@539:  */
jaroslav@539: 
jaroslav@539: package java.lang;
jaroslav@539: 
jaroslav@539: /**
jaroslav@539:  * The <code>Runnable</code> interface should be implemented by any
jaroslav@539:  * class whose instances are intended to be executed by a thread. The
jaroslav@539:  * class must define a method of no arguments called <code>run</code>.
jaroslav@539:  * <p>
jaroslav@539:  * This interface is designed to provide a common protocol for objects that
jaroslav@539:  * wish to execute code while they are active. For example,
jaroslav@539:  * <code>Runnable</code> is implemented by class <code>Thread</code>.
jaroslav@539:  * Being active simply means that a thread has been started and has not
jaroslav@539:  * yet been stopped.
jaroslav@539:  * <p>
jaroslav@539:  * In addition, <code>Runnable</code> provides the means for a class to be
jaroslav@539:  * active while not subclassing <code>Thread</code>. A class that implements
jaroslav@539:  * <code>Runnable</code> can run without subclassing <code>Thread</code>
jaroslav@539:  * by instantiating a <code>Thread</code> instance and passing itself in
jaroslav@539:  * as the target.  In most cases, the <code>Runnable</code> interface should
jaroslav@539:  * be used if you are only planning to override the <code>run()</code>
jaroslav@539:  * method and no other <code>Thread</code> methods.
jaroslav@539:  * This is important because classes should not be subclassed
jaroslav@539:  * unless the programmer intends on modifying or enhancing the fundamental
jaroslav@539:  * behavior of the class.
jaroslav@539:  *
jaroslav@539:  * @author  Arthur van Hoff
jaroslav@539:  * @see     java.lang.Thread
jaroslav@539:  * @see     java.util.concurrent.Callable
jaroslav@539:  * @since   JDK1.0
jaroslav@539:  */
jaroslav@539: public
jaroslav@539: interface Runnable {
jaroslav@539:     /**
jaroslav@539:      * When an object implementing interface <code>Runnable</code> is used
jaroslav@539:      * to create a thread, starting the thread causes the object's
jaroslav@539:      * <code>run</code> method to be called in that separately executing
jaroslav@539:      * thread.
jaroslav@539:      * <p>
jaroslav@539:      * The general contract of the method <code>run</code> is that it may
jaroslav@539:      * take any action whatsoever.
jaroslav@539:      *
jaroslav@539:      * @see     java.lang.Thread#run()
jaroslav@539:      */
jaroslav@539:     public abstract void run();
jaroslav@539: }