A channel that can be multiplexed via a
Selector
.
In order to be used with a selector, an instance of this class must first be registered via the register
method. This method returns a new SelectionKey
object that represents the channel's registration with the selector.
Once registered with a selector, a channel remains registered until it is deregistered. This involves deallocating whatever resources were allocated to the channel by the selector.
A channel cannot be deregistered directly; instead, the key representing its registration must be cancelled. Cancelling a key requests that the channel be deregistered during the selector's next selection operation. A key may be cancelled explicitly by invoking its cancel
method. All of a channel's keys are cancelled implicitly when the channel is closed, whether by invoking its close
method or by interrupting a thread blocked in an I/O operation upon the channel.
If the selector itself is closed then the channel will be deregistered, and the key representing its registration will be invalidated, without further delay.
A channel may be registered at most once with any particular selector.
Whether or not a channel is registered with one or more selectors may be determined by invoking the isRegistered
method.
Selectable channels are safe for use by multiple concurrent threads.
Blocking mode
A selectable channel is either in
blocking mode or in
non-blocking mode. In blocking mode, every I/O operation invoked upon the channel will block until it completes. In non-blocking mode an I/O operation will never block and may transfer fewer bytes than were requested or possibly no bytes at all. The blocking mode of a selectable channel may be determined by invoking its
isBlocking
method.
Newly-created selectable channels are always in blocking mode. Non-blocking mode is most useful in conjunction with selector-based multiplexing. A channel must be placed into non-blocking mode before being registered with a selector, and may not be returned to blocking mode until it has been deregistered.