ThreadGroup (Java SE 21 & JDK 21)
Description: declaration: module: java.base, package: java.lang, class: ThreadGroup
Keywords: java.lang.ThreadGroup class

Module java.base
Package java.lang

# Class ThreadGroup

java.lang.Object
java.lang.ThreadGroup

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler`

public class ThreadGroup extends Object implements Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler
A thread group represents a set of threads. In addition, a thread group can also include other thread groups. The thread groups form a tree in which every thread group except the initial thread group has a parent.

A thread group has a name and maximum priority. The name is specified when creating the group and cannot be changed. The group's maximum priority is the maximum priority for threads created in the group. It is initially inherited from the parent thread group but may be changed using the `setMaxPriority` method.

A thread group is weakly reachable from its parent group so that it is eligible for garbage collection when there are no live threads in the group and the thread group is otherwise unreachable.

Unless otherwise specified, passing a `null` argument to a constructor or method in this class will cause a `NullPointerException` to be thrown.

## Thread groups and virtual threads

The Java runtime creates a special thread group for virtual threads. This group is returned by the `Thread.getThreadGroup` method when invoked on a virtual thread. The thread group differs to other thread groups in that its maximum priority is fixed and cannot be changed with the `setMaxPriority` method. Virtual threads are not included in the estimated thread count returned by the `activeCount` method, are not enumerated by the `enumerate` method, and are not interrupted by the `interrupt` method.

API Note:
  Thread groups provided a way in early Java releases to group threads and provide a form of job control for threads. Thread groups supported the isolation of applets and defined methods intended for diagnostic purposes. It should be rare for new applications to create ThreadGroups and interact with this API.
Since:
  1.0

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `ThreadGroup(String name)`
  Constructs a new thread group.
  `ThreadGroup(ThreadGroup parent, String name)`
  Creates a new thread group.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `int`
  `activeCount()`
  Returns an estimate of the number of live platform threads in this thread group and its subgroups.
  `int`
  `activeGroupCount()`
  Returns an estimate of the number of groups in this thread group and its subgroups.
  `final void`
  `checkAccess()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method is only useful in conjunction with the Security Manager, which is deprecated and subject to removal in a future release.
  `final void`
  `destroy()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method was originally specified to destroy an empty thread group.
  `int`
  `enumerate(Thread[] list)`
  Copies into the specified array every live platform thread in this thread group and its subgroups.
  `int`
  `enumerate(Thread[] list, boolean recurse)`
  Copies into the specified array every live platform thread in this thread group.
  `int`
  `enumerate(ThreadGroup[] list)`
  Copies into the specified array references to every subgroup in this thread group and its subgroups.
  `int`
  `enumerate(ThreadGroup[] list, boolean recurse)`
  Copies into the specified array references to every subgroup in this thread group.
  `final int`
  `getMaxPriority()`
  Returns the maximum priority of this thread group.
  `final String`
  `getName()`
  Returns the name of this thread group.
  `final ThreadGroup`
  `getParent()`
  Returns the parent of this thread group.
  `final void`
  `interrupt()`
  Interrupts all live platform threads in this thread group and its subgroups.
  `final boolean`
  `isDaemon()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method originally indicated if the thread group is a daemon thread group that is automatically destroyed when its last thread terminates.
  `boolean`
  `isDestroyed()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method originally indicated if the thread group is destroyed.
  `void`
  `list()`
  Prints information about this thread group to the standard output.
  `final boolean`
  `parentOf(ThreadGroup g)`
  Tests if this thread group is either the thread group argument or one of its ancestor thread groups.
  `final void`
  `resume()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method was originally specified to resume all threads in the thread group.
  `final void`
  `setDaemon(boolean daemon)`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method originally configured whether the thread group is a daemon thread group that is automatically destroyed when its last thread terminates.
  `final void`
  `setMaxPriority(int pri)`
  Sets the maximum priority of the group.
  `final void`
  `stop()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method was originally specified to stop all threads in the thread group.
  `final void`
  `suspend()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  This method was originally specified to suspend all threads in the thread group.
  `String`
  `toString()`
  Returns a string representation of this Thread group.
  `void`
  `uncaughtException(Thread t, Throwable e)`
  Called by the Java Virtual Machine when a thread in this thread group stops because of an uncaught exception, and the thread does not have a specific `Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler` installed.

  ### Methods declared in class java.lang.Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### ThreadGroup

    public ThreadGroup(String name)
    Constructs a new thread group. The parent of this new group is the thread group of the currently running thread.

    The `checkAccess` method of the parent thread group is called with no arguments; this may result in a security exception.

    Parameters:
      `name` - the name of the new thread group, can be `null`
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread cannot create a thread in the specified thread group.
    See Also:
      - `checkAccess()`

  - ### ThreadGroup

    public ThreadGroup(ThreadGroup parent, String name)
    Creates a new thread group. The parent of this new group is the specified thread group.

    The `checkAccess` method of the parent thread group is called with no arguments; this may result in a security exception.

    Parameters:
      `parent` - the parent thread group.
      `name` - the name of the new thread group, can be `null`
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread cannot create a thread in the specified thread group.
    See Also:
      - `checkAccess()`

- ## Method Details

  - ### getName

    public final String getName()
    Returns the name of this thread group.
    Returns:
      the name of this thread group, may be `null`

  - ### getParent

    public final ThreadGroup getParent()
    Returns the parent of this thread group.

    First, if the parent is not `null`, the `checkAccess` method of the parent thread group is called with no arguments; this may result in a security exception.

    Returns:
      the parent of this thread group. The top-level thread group is the only thread group whose parent is `null`.
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread cannot modify this thread group.
    See Also:
      - `checkAccess()`
      - `SecurityException`
      - `RuntimePermission`

  - ### getMaxPriority

    public final int getMaxPriority()
    Returns the maximum priority of this thread group. This is the maximum priority for new threads created in the thread group.
    Returns:
      the maximum priority for new threads created in the thread group
    See Also:
      - `setMaxPriority(int)`

  - ### isDaemon

    @Deprecated(since="16", forRemoval=true) public final boolean isDaemon()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method originally indicated if the thread group is a daemon thread group that is automatically destroyed when its last thread terminates. The concept of daemon thread group no longer exists. A thread group is eligible to be GC'ed when there are no live threads in the group and it is otherwise unreachable.
    Returns the daemon status of this thread group. The daemon status is not used for anything.
    Returns:
      the daemon status of this thread group

  - ### isDestroyed

    @Deprecated(since="16", forRemoval=true) public boolean isDestroyed()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method originally indicated if the thread group is destroyed. The ability to destroy a thread group and the concept of a destroyed thread group no longer exists. A thread group is eligible to be GC'ed when there are no live threads in the group and it is otherwise unreachable.
    Returns false.
    Returns:
      false
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### setDaemon

    @Deprecated(since="16", forRemoval=true) public final void setDaemon(boolean daemon)
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method originally configured whether the thread group is a daemon thread group that is automatically destroyed when its last thread terminates. The concept of daemon thread group no longer exists. A thread group is eligible to be GC'ed when there are no live threads in the group and it is otherwise unreachable.
    Sets the daemon status of this thread group. The daemon status is not used for anything.

    First, the `checkAccess` method of this thread group is called with no arguments; this may result in a security exception.

    Parameters:
      `daemon` - the daemon status
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread cannot modify this thread group.
    See Also:
      - `SecurityException`
      - `checkAccess()`

  - ### setMaxPriority

    public final void setMaxPriority(int pri)
    Sets the maximum priority of the group. The maximum priority of the ThreadGroup for virtual threads is not changed by this method (the new priority is ignored). Threads in the thread group (or subgroups) that already have a higher priority are not affected by this method.

    First, the `checkAccess` method of this thread group is called with no arguments; this may result in a security exception.

    If the `pri` argument is less than `Thread.MIN_PRIORITY` or greater than `Thread.MAX_PRIORITY`, the maximum priority of the group remains unchanged.

    Otherwise, the priority of this ThreadGroup object is set to the smaller of the specified `pri` and the maximum permitted priority of the parent of this thread group. (If this thread group is the system thread group, which has no parent, then its maximum priority is simply set to `pri`.) Then this method is called recursively, with `pri` as its argument, for every thread group that belongs to this thread group.

    Parameters:
      `pri` - the new priority of the thread group.
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread cannot modify this thread group.
    See Also:
      - `getMaxPriority()`
      - `SecurityException`
      - `checkAccess()`

  - ### parentOf

    public final boolean parentOf(ThreadGroup g)
    Tests if this thread group is either the thread group argument or one of its ancestor thread groups.
    Parameters:
      `g` - a thread group, can be `null`
    Returns:
      `true` if this thread group is the thread group argument or one of its ancestor thread groups; `false` otherwise.

  - ### checkAccess

    @Deprecated(since="17", forRemoval=true) public final void checkAccess()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method is only useful in conjunction with the Security Manager, which is deprecated and subject to removal in a future release. Consequently, this method is also deprecated and subject to removal. There is no replacement for the Security Manager or this method.
    Determines if the currently running thread has permission to modify this thread group.

    If there is a security manager, its `checkAccess` method is called with this thread group as its argument. This may result in throwing a `SecurityException`.

    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread is not allowed to access this thread group.
    See Also:
      - `SecurityManager.checkAccess(java.lang.ThreadGroup)`

  - ### activeCount

    public int activeCount()
    Returns an estimate of the number of live platform threads in this thread group and its subgroups. Virtual threads are not included in the estimate. This method recursively iterates over all subgroups in this thread group.

    The value returned is only an estimate because the number of threads may change dynamically while this method traverses internal data structures, and might be affected by the presence of certain system threads. This method is intended primarily for debugging and monitoring purposes.

    Returns:
      an estimate of the number of live threads in this thread group and in any other thread group that has this thread group as an ancestor

  - ### enumerate

    public int enumerate(Thread[] list)
    Copies into the specified array every live platform thread in this thread group and its subgroups. Virtual threads are not enumerated by this method.

    An invocation of this method behaves in exactly the same way as the invocation

    > enumerate`(list, true)`

    Parameters:
      `list` - an array into which to put the list of threads
    Returns:
      the number of threads put into the array
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if checkAccess determines that the current thread cannot access this thread group

  - ### enumerate

    public int enumerate(Thread[] list, boolean recurse)
    Copies into the specified array every live platform thread in this thread group. Virtual threads are not enumerated by this method. If `recurse` is `true`, this method recursively enumerates all subgroups of this thread group and references to every live platform thread in these subgroups are also included. If the array is too short to hold all the threads, the extra threads are silently ignored.

    An application might use the activeCount method to get an estimate of how big the array should be, however if the array is too short to hold all the threads, the extra threads are silently ignored. If it is critical to obtain every live thread in this thread group, the caller should verify that the returned int value is strictly less than the length of `list`.

    Due to the inherent race condition in this method, it is recommended that the method only be used for debugging and monitoring purposes.

    Parameters:
      `list` - an array into which to put the list of threads
      `recurse` - if `true`, recursively enumerate all subgroups of this thread group
    Returns:
      the number of threads put into the array
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if checkAccess determines that the current thread cannot access this thread group

  - ### activeGroupCount

    public int activeGroupCount()
    Returns an estimate of the number of groups in this thread group and its subgroups. Recursively iterates over all subgroups in this thread group.

    The value returned is only an estimate because the number of thread groups may change dynamically while this method traverses internal data structures. This method is intended primarily for debugging and monitoring purposes.

    Returns:
      the number of thread groups with this thread group as an ancestor

  - ### enumerate

    public int enumerate(ThreadGroup[] list)
    Copies into the specified array references to every subgroup in this thread group and its subgroups.

    An invocation of this method behaves in exactly the same way as the invocation

    > enumerate`(list, true)`

    Parameters:
      `list` - an array into which to put the list of thread groups
    Returns:
      the number of thread groups put into the array
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if checkAccess determines that the current thread cannot access this thread group

  - ### enumerate

    public int enumerate(ThreadGroup[] list, boolean recurse)
    Copies into the specified array references to every subgroup in this thread group. If `recurse` is `true`, this method recursively enumerates all subgroups of this thread group and references to every thread group in these subgroups are also included.

    An application might use the activeGroupCount method to get an estimate of how big the array should be, however if the array is too short to hold all the thread groups, the extra thread groups are silently ignored. If it is critical to obtain every subgroup in this thread group, the caller should verify that the returned int value is strictly less than the length of `list`.

    Due to the inherent race condition in this method, it is recommended that the method only be used for debugging and monitoring purposes.

    Parameters:
      `list` - an array into which to put the list of thread groups
      `recurse` - if `true`, recursively enumerate all subgroups
    Returns:
      the number of thread groups put into the array
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if checkAccess determines that the current thread cannot access this thread group

  - ### stop

    @Deprecated(since="1.2", forRemoval=true) public final void stop()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method was originally specified to stop all threads in the thread group. It was inherently unsafe.
    Throws `UnsupportedOperationException`.

  - ### interrupt

    public final void interrupt()
    Interrupts all live platform threads in this thread group and its subgroups.
    Throws:
      `SecurityException` - if the current thread is not allowed to access this thread group or any of the threads in the thread group.
    Since:
      1.2
    See Also:
      - `Thread.interrupt()`
      - `SecurityException`
      - `checkAccess()`

  - ### suspend

    @Deprecated(since="1.2", forRemoval=true) public final void suspend()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method was originally specified to suspend all threads in the thread group.
    Throws `UnsupportedOperationException`.

  - ### resume

    @Deprecated(since="1.2", forRemoval=true) public final void resume()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method was originally specified to resume all threads in the thread group.
    Throws `UnsupportedOperationException`.

  - ### destroy

    @Deprecated(since="16", forRemoval=true) public final void destroy()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    This method was originally specified to destroy an empty thread group. The ability to explicitly destroy a thread group no longer exists. A thread group is eligible to be GC'ed when there are no live threads in the group and it is otherwise unreachable.
    Does nothing.

  - ### list

    public void list()
    Prints information about this thread group to the standard output. This method is useful only for debugging.

  - ### uncaughtException

    public void uncaughtException(Thread t, Throwable e)
    Called by the Java Virtual Machine when a thread in this thread group stops because of an uncaught exception, and the thread does not have a specific `Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler` installed.

    The `uncaughtException` method of `ThreadGroup` does the following:

    - If this thread group has a parent thread group, the `uncaughtException` method of that parent is called with the same two arguments.
    - Otherwise, this method checks to see if there is a default uncaught exception handler installed, and if so, its `uncaughtException` method is called with the same two arguments.
    - Otherwise, a message containing the thread's name, as returned from the thread's `getName` method, and a stack backtrace, using the `Throwable`'s `printStackTrace` method, is printed to the standard error stream.

    Applications can override this method in subclasses of `ThreadGroup` to provide alternative handling of uncaught exceptions.

    Specified by:
      `uncaughtException` in interface `Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler`
    Parameters:
      `t` - the thread that is about to exit.
      `e` - the uncaught exception.

  - ### toString

    public String toString()
    Returns a string representation of this Thread group.
    Overrides:
      `toString` in class `Object`
    Returns:
      a string representation of this thread group.