java - Alternative method to kill thread -

i have been looking ways kill thread , appears popular approach

public class usingflagtoshutdownthread extends thread {   private boolean running = true;   public void run() {     while (running) {       system.out.print(".");       system.out.flush();       try {         thread.sleep(1000);       } catch (interruptedexception ex) {}     }     system.out.println("shutting down thread");   }   public void shutdown() {     running = false;   }   public static void main(string[] args)       throws interruptedexception {     usingflagtoshutdownthread t = new usingflagtoshutdownthread();     t.start();     thread.sleep(5000);     t.shutdown();   } } 

however, if in while loop spawn another object gets populated data (say gui running , updating) how call - considering method might have been called several times have many threads while (running) changing flag 1 change everyone?

thanks

one approach these problems have monitor class handles threads. can start necessary threads (possibly @ different times/when necessary) , once want shutdown can call shutdown method there interrupt (or some) of threads.

also, calling threads interrupt() method nicer approach out of blocking actions throw interruptedexception (wait/sleep example). set flag there in threads (which can checked isinterrupted() or checked , cleared interrupted(). example following code can replace current code:

public class usingflagtoshutdownthread extends thread {   public void run() {     while (!isinterrupted()) {       system.out.print(".");       system.out.flush();       try {         thread.sleep(1000);       } catch (interruptedexception ex) { interrupt(); }     }     system.out.println("shutting down thread");   }   public static void main(string[] args)       throws interruptedexception {     usingflagtoshutdownthread t = new usingflagtoshutdownthread();     t.start();     thread.sleep(5000);     t.interrupt();   } }