Volatile (computer programming): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:13, 11 April 2006

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In [[computer programming]], a [[variable]] or object declared with the '''volatile''' [[Keyword_(Computer)|keyword]] may be modified externally from the declaring object. For example, a variable that might be concurrently modified by multiple [[Thread_(computer_science)|threads]] (without [[Lock_(computer_science)|locks]] or a similar form of [[mutual exclusion]]) should be declared volatile. Variables declared to be volatile will not be optimized by the [[compiler]] because their value can change at any time. Note that operations on a volatile variable are still ''not'' [[Atomic operation|atomic]]!.

==What can happen if volatile is not used?==