Java FAQ: Top Questions

27. What is the difference between sleep() and wait() in Java?

sleep() and wait() are methods used in Java multithreading, but they differ in purpose and behavior.

sleep():
- Static method of Thread class.
- Pauses the current thread for a specified time without releasing locks.
- Used for delaying execution.
wait():
- Instance method of Object class.
- Releases the monitor (lock) and waits for notify() or notifyAll() .
- Used for inter-thread communication within synchronized blocks.