Non syntax thread questions

[Pojahn_M]

Is using multiple threads faster than using just one thread?
Example, say I want to do some operation. Would that operation be faster if I splitted it into two threads?

Example when threads can be used, other than when creating games?

[doWhile]

Example when threads can be used, other than when creating games?

Long running tasks spawned from the EDT using AWT and Swing will lock up the GUI - perfect example of where a thread (or SwingWorker) can run in parallel so the EDT can continue to operate.

Is using multiple threads faster than using just one thread?
Example, say I want to do some operation. Would that operation be faster if I splitted it into two threads?

This highly depends on the circumstances. If the work can be split up, then ok. There are occasions where splitting up an algorithm into separate threads is a pain if not impossible...there are other times where this is easy. There are times where one can spawn as may threads are there are tasks (or individual tasks for an overall goal), in which case Thread pools are probably more appropriate - each thread has an overhead...create too many and that overhead may get large enough to affect overall performance.

[Norm]

Is using multiple threads faster than using just one thread?

If the threads can use their own processor/core and can work in parallel, that will reduce the time taken for the job. If the threads share one processor, then the overhead of switching between threads can make the time to do the job longer.