What is thread starvation, and how can it be prevented?
What is thread starvation, and how can it be prevented?
348
06-Mar-2025
Updated on 10-Mar-2025
Khushi Singh
10-Mar-2025Thread starvation develops when lower-priority threads remain indefinitely unable to execute because higher-priority threads consume all available CPU resources and time without interruption. The priority-based scheduling system creates such conditions because lower priority threads almost never receive CPU access. Background running threads may cause starvation when they hold access to shared resources without interruption thus delaying waiting threads.
Thread starvation results mainly from system scheduling policies that prioritize high-priority threads and thus block the execution of lower-priority threads. The continuous holding of a resource by one thread prevents other threads from accessing it which represents a resource contention issue. Unfairness in multi-threaded applications becomes a problem due to improper implementation of locks or semaphores and mutexes.
The implementation of round-robin scheduling with similar techniques works as a solution against thread starvation since it ensures equal CPU time allocation for all active threads. The Java class
ReentrantLockenables fairness using a mode that provides access to waiting threads according to their request time sequence. A fair resource allocation can be achieved with the configuration of Monitor andSemaphoreSlimin the .NET framework.Priority aging represents an effective solution because it escalates waiting for threads' priority levels with time until every thread receives CPU access. Controlled thread pool allocation methods work to distribute execution work evenly among multiple active threads.
Developers can achieve fair execution along with starvation prevention together with better application responsiveness through these implemented techniques. Applications that use threads require proper synchronization protocols along with efficient resource distribution mechanisms so they avoid starvation. Fair scheduling policies establish vital importance in multi-threaded environments.