Why it matters

Virtual threads change Java concurrency dramatically. Understanding shapes modern app design.

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The architecture

Same Thread API but backed by continuation on carrier thread.

Start: 'Thread.ofVirtual().start(runnable)'.

Virtual thread modelVirtual threadcheap, mounted on demandCarrier threadOS thread poolBlocking I/Ounmounts + parksBlocking calls automatically yield carrier; no async rewrite needed
Virtual threads mechanism.
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How it works end to end

Blocking: virtual thread parks; carrier freed for other virtual threads.

Executor: Executors.newVirtualThreadPerTaskExecutor().

Use case: I/O-bound (web servers, DB clients, API integrations).

Not for CPU-bound: no advantage over regular threads.