What is multithreading in C#?
💡 Concept: Multithreading
Multithreading in C# allows multiple threads to run concurrently, enabling parallel execution within a single application process.
📘 Quick Intro
This improves responsiveness, utilization of multi-core processors, and overall application throughput.
🧠 Analogy
Imagine a kitchen with several chefs preparing different dishes simultaneously to speed up meal preparation.
🔧 Technical Explanation
- 🧵 Threads are independent paths of execution within a process.
- ⚙️ C# provides
Threadclass andTaskParallel Library (TPL) for multithreading. - 🔄 Synchronization is crucial to avoid race conditions and deadlocks.
- 📈 Efficient multithreading improves application performance on multi-core CPUs.
- 🛠️ Use async/await and TPL for modern concurrency patterns.
🎯 Use Cases
- ✅ Performing background tasks.
- ✅ Improving UI responsiveness.
- ✅ Parallel processing of data.
- ✅ Network and file I/O operations.
💻 Code Example
using System;
using System.Threading;
class Program {
static void Main() {
Thread thread = new Thread(() => {
Console.WriteLine(""Hello from another thread!"");
});
thread.Start();
Console.WriteLine(""Hello from main thread!"");
}
}
❓ Interview Q&A
Q1: What is multithreading?
A: Concurrent execution of multiple threads within a process.
Q2: How do you create a thread in C#?
A: Using the Thread class or Task Parallel Library.
Q3: What is a race condition?
A: When threads access shared data unsafely.
Q4: What is deadlock?
A: When threads wait indefinitely for each other’s resources.
Q5: How to avoid deadlocks?
A: Use proper synchronization and locks.
Q6: What is thread safety?
A: Writing code safe to be executed by multiple threads.
Q7: What is Task Parallel Library?
A: A set of APIs to simplify parallel programming.
Q8: How does async/await relate to threading?
A: They simplify asynchronous programming without blocking threads.
Q9: Can UI be updated from background threads?
A: Usually not; UI updates must occur on the main thread.
Q10: What are common synchronization primitives?
A: Mutex, lock, semaphore, Monitor.
📝 MCQs
Q1. What is multithreading?
- Sequential execution
- Concurrent execution of threads
- Single-threaded
- None
Q2. How to create a thread in C#?
- Using Process
- Using Thread or Task
- Using Class
- Using Interface
Q3. What is a race condition?
- Safe data access
- Unsafe shared data access
- Error handling
- Deadlock
Q4. What is deadlock?
- Thread termination
- Threads waiting indefinitely
- Data corruption
- Memory leak
Q5. How to avoid deadlocks?
- Ignore
- Proper synchronization
- More threads
- Locks only
Q6. What is thread safety?
- Unsafe code
- Safe multithreaded code
- Single-threaded
- None
Q7. What is Task Parallel Library?
- Library for collections
- API for parallelism
- UI framework
- Database access
Q8. How does async/await relate to threading?
- Blocks threads
- Simplifies async code
- Blocks UI
- None
Q9. Can UI be updated from background threads?
- Yes
- No
- Sometimes
- Always
Q10. Common synchronization primitives?
- Try-catch
- Mutex, lock, semaphore
- Events
- Async
💡 Bonus Insight
Understanding multithreading is key to developing responsive and efficient C# applications, especially on multi-core systems.
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