Ruby Threads

Introduction to Ruby Threads

Ruby threads provide a way to achieve concurrency within a Ruby program. They allow multiple tasks to run in parallel, making efficient use of system resources. Threads are implemented using the Thread class in Ruby.

Creating a Thread in Ruby

Creating a thread in Ruby is straightforward. You can instantiate a new thread by calling Thread.new and passing a block of code to execute. Here's a simple example:

Managing Multiple Threads

Ruby allows you to create and manage multiple threads. By using the Thread class, you can start multiple threads to perform concurrent tasks. Here's how you can create and join multiple threads:

Thread Synchronization

When working with threads, it's crucial to manage access to shared resources to avoid race conditions. Ruby provides several mechanisms for thread synchronization, such as Mutex. A Mutex is a mutual exclusion object that prevents simultaneous access to shared data.

Handling Exceptions in Threads

Exceptions in threads should be handled carefully to ensure the program's stability. You can rescue exceptions within the thread block to prevent the entire program from crashing.

Conclusion

Ruby threads provide a powerful tool for concurrency, allowing you to run multiple operations simultaneously. By understanding how to create, manage, and synchronize threads, you can write efficient, concurrent Ruby programs. Be sure to handle exceptions within threads to maintain program stability.