Differences between the Thread class and Runnable interface in Java

When it comes to multithreading in Java, the Thread class and Runnable interface play important roles. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Thread class: The Thread class is a class in Java that represents a thread of execution. When using the Thread class, you need to extend the Thread class and override its run() method to define the code that will be executed by the thread.
2. Runnable interface: The Runnable interface is an interface in Java that defines a single method, run(), which contains the code that will be executed by the thread. To use the Runnable interface, you need to implement the run() method in a class that implements the interface.
3. Extending vs. Implementing: One of the key differences between the Thread class and Runnable interface is that when using the Thread class, you are extending the class, while with the Runnable interface, you are implementing the interface. Java does not support multiple inheritance, so implementing the Runnable interface allows you to extend another class.
4. Flexibility: Using the Runnable interface allows for more flexibility in your code as you can implement multiple interfaces, whereas extending the Thread class limits you to only extending a single class.
5. Reusability: Implementing the Runnable interface promotes better code reuse as you can implement the interface in multiple classes and have those classes run on separate threads, whereas extending the Thread class ties your code to the Thread class and limits reuse.

Overall, the Thread class and Runnable interface offer different ways to achieve multithreading in Java, each with its own advantages and use cases. Understanding the differences between the two will help you choose the best approach for your multithreading needs.