Step 1: Open Eclipse and Create a New Java Project

1. Open Eclipse IDE.

2. Click on File → New → Java Project.

3. In the Project Name field, enter

MultiThreadingDemo

Click Finish.

Step 2: Create a New Package

1. Inside your new project (MultiThreadingDemo), right-click on src.

2. Select New → Package.

3. Enter a package name, e.g

com.example.threads

Click Finish.

Step 3: Create a Java Class for Multithreading

1. Right-click on the package (com.example.threads).

2. Click New → Class.

3. In the Class Name field, enter:

MyThread

4. Uncheck "public static void main(String[] args)".

5. Click Finish.

Step 4: Write Code for Thread Execution

Method 1: Extending Thread Class

Inside MyThread.java, write this code:

class MyThread extends Thread {

public void run() {

for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {

System.out.println(Thread.currentThread().getName() + " - Count: " + i);

try {

Thread.sleep(1000); // Pause for 1 second

} catch (InterruptedException e) {

e.printStackTrace();

Step 5: Create a Main Class

1. Right-click on the package (com.example.threads).

2. Click New → Class.

3. Enter the class name:

ThreadDemo

4. Check "public static void main(String[] args)".

5. Click Finish.

Step 6: Write the Code to Start Threads

Inside ThreadDemo.java, write this code:

package com.example.threads;

public class ThreadDemo {

public static void main(String[] args) {

MyThread t1 = new MyThread();

t1.setName("Thread 1");

t2.setName("Thread 2");

t1.start(); // Start the first thread

t2.start(); // Start the second thread

Step 7: Run the Program

1. In Eclipse, right-click on ThreadDemo.java.

2. Select Run As → Java Application.

3. You will see output similar to this:

Thread 1 - Count: 1

Thread 2 - Count: 1

Thread 1 - Count: 2

Thread 2 - Count: 2

Thread 1 - Count: 3

Thread 2 - Count: 3

...

Understanding How It Works

 Two threads (t1 and t2) run independently and print numbers from 1 to 5.

 Each thread waits (Thread.sleep(1000)) for 1 second between prints.

 Threads execute in parallel, so the order is not fixed

Multithreading is a feature in Java that allows multiple parts of a program (threads) to run
simultaneously. This improves performance and efficiency.

For example:

 A video player can play video and receive user input at the same time.

 A web browser can load pages and allow scrolling at the same time.

Basic Concept of Threads

A thread is like a separate worker running a task in a program. In Java, you can create threads using
two methods:

1. Extending the Thread class (Directly creating a thread)

2. Implementing the Runnable interface (Recommended way for flexibility)

1️⃣ Creating a Thread by Extending the Thread Class

Let's create a simple multithreading program where two threads run simultaneously and print
numbers.

Step 1: Define a Thread Class

We create a class that extends Thread and overrides the run() method.

package com.example.threads; // This is the package name

// Define a custom thread class by extending Thread

class MyThread extends Thread {

public void run() {

for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {

System.out.println(Thread.currentThread().getName() + " - Count: " + i);

try {

Thread.sleep(1000); // Pause for 1 second (1000 milliseconds)

} catch (InterruptedException e) {

e.printStackTrace();

}
 }

What Happens Here?

 run() method: Defines the task the thread will execute.

 Thread.sleep(1000): Makes the thread pause for 1 second to simulate processing time.

2️ Running Threads in main() Method

We create two threads inside the main method and start them.

package com.example.threads; // Package name

public class ThreadDemo {

public static void main(String[] args) {

MyThread t1 = new MyThread(); // Create first thread

MyThread t2 = new MyThread(); // Create second thread

t1.setName("Thread 1");

t2.setName("Thread 2");

t1.start(); // Start first thread

t2.start(); // Start second thread

3️ Explanation of start() vs run()

Wrong way: Calling run() directly → Runs like a normal method, NOT a thread.

t1.run(); // This runs like a normal method, NOT a thread!

t2.run(); // Not multithreading

Correct way: Calling start() → Runs as a separate thread.

t1.start(); // Runs in parallel as a new thread

t2.start(); // Runs in parallel as a new thread

Since the threads run independently, the output may vary each time:

Thread 1 - Count: 1

Thread 2 - Count: 1

Thread 1 - Count: 2

Thread 2 - Count: 2

Thread 1 - Count: 3

Thread 2 - Count: 3

Thread 1 - Count: 4

Thread 2 - Count: 4

Thread 1 - Count: 5

Thread 2 - Count: 5

Here, both threads print numbers in parallel.

5️⃣ Creating Threads Using Runnable Interface (Recommended Way)

Instead of extending Thread, you can implement Runnable for better flexibility.

Step 1: Create a Runnable Class

package com.example.threads;

class RunnableThread implements Runnable {

public void run() {

for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {

System.out.println(Thread.currentThread().getName() + " - Count: " + i);

try {

Thread.sleep(1000);

} catch (InterruptedException e) {

e.printStackTrace();

}
Step 2: Create Threads Using Thread Class

package com.example.threads;

public class ThreadDemo {

public static void main(String[] args) {

RunnableThread task = new RunnableThread();

Thread t1 = new Thread(task, "Thread 1");

Thread t2 = new Thread(task, "Thread 2");

t1.start(); // Start first thread

t2.start(); // Start second thread

6️ Key Differences: Thread vs Runnable

Feature Extending Thread Implementing Runnable

Inheritance Cannot extend another class Can extend other classes

Flexibility Less flexible More flexible

Best Practice Not recommended Recommended ✅

🔹 Use Runnable when possible because Java doesn’t support multiple inheritance.

7️ Summary of Steps

Step Action

1 Create a Java Project in Eclipse

2 Create a Package (com.example.threads)

3 Create a Thread Class (MyThread.java)

4 Write run() method in MyThread.java

5 Create ThreadDemo.java with main() method

6 Start threads using start()

7 Run the program and see multithreading in action