Quick Answer
volatile ensures visibility: reads come from main memory, writes go directly to main memory (not CPU cache). Does NOT ensure atomicity. count++ on a volatile int is still a race condition (read, increment, write - three separate operations). For atomic operations use AtomicInteger.incrementAndGet(). volatile is correct for: simple boolean flags, double-checked locking with proper pattern.
Answer
volatile guarantees visibility of updates across threads. Does not ensure atomic operations for increments or composite actions. Use atomic classes or synchronization for atomicity.
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SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
