# Class RecursiveTask<V>

java.lang.Object
java.util.concurrent.ForkJoinTask<V>
java.util.concurrent.RecursiveTask<V>

Type Parameters:
  `V` - the type of the result of the task

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable, Future<V>`

public abstract class RecursiveTask<V> extends ForkJoinTask<V>
A recursive result-bearing `ForkJoinTask`.

For example, here is a task-based program for computing Factorials:

    import java.util.concurrent.RecursiveTask;
    import java.math.BigInteger;
    public class Factorial {
      static class FactorialTask extends RecursiveTask<BigInteger> {
        private final int from, to;
        FactorialTask(int from, int to) { this.from = from; this.to = to; }
        protected BigInteger compute() {
          int range = to - from;
          if (range == 0) {                       // base case
            return BigInteger.valueOf(from);
          } else if (range == 1) {                // too small to parallelize
            return BigInteger.valueOf(from).multiply(BigInteger.valueOf(to));
          } else {                                // split in half
            int mid = from + range / 2;
            FactorialTask leftTask = new FactorialTask(from, mid);
            leftTask.fork();         // perform about half the work locally
            return new FactorialTask(mid + 1, to).compute()
                   .multiply(leftTask.join());
          }
        }
      }
      static BigInteger factorial(int n) { // uses ForkJoinPool.commonPool()
        return (n <= 1) ? BigInteger.ONE : new FactorialTask(1, n).invoke();
      }
      public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(factorial(Integer.parseInt(args[0])));
      }
    }

Since:
  1.7
See Also:
  - Serialized Form

- ## Nested Class Summary

  ### Nested classes/interfaces declared in interface Future

  `Future.State`

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `RecursiveTask()`
  Constructor for subclasses to call.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `protected abstract V`
  `compute()`
  The main computation performed by this task.
  `protected final boolean`
  `exec()`
  Implements execution conventions for RecursiveTask.
  `final V`
  `getRawResult()`
  Returns the result that would be returned by `ForkJoinTask.join()`, even if this task completed abnormally, or `null` if this task is not known to have been completed.
  `protected final void`
  `setRawResult(V value)`
  Forces the given value to be returned as a result.

  ### Methods declared in class ForkJoinTask

  `adapt, adapt, adapt, adaptInterruptible, adaptInterruptible, adaptInterruptible, cancel, compareAndSetForkJoinTaskTag, complete, completeExceptionally, exceptionNow, fork, get, get, getException, getForkJoinTaskTag, getPool, getQueuedTaskCount, getSurplusQueuedTaskCount, helpQuiesce, inForkJoinPool, invoke, invokeAll, invokeAll, invokeAll, isCancelled, isCompletedAbnormally, isCompletedNormally, isDone, join, peekNextLocalTask, pollNextLocalTask, pollSubmission, pollTask, quietlyComplete, quietlyInvoke, quietlyJoin, quietlyJoin, quietlyJoinUninterruptibly, reinitialize, resultNow, setForkJoinTaskTag, state, tryUnfork`

  ### Methods declared in class Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### RecursiveTask

    public RecursiveTask()
    Constructor for subclasses to call.

- ## Method Details

  - ### compute

    protected abstract V compute()
    The main computation performed by this task.
    Returns:
      the result of the computation

  - ### getRawResult

    public final V getRawResult()
    Description copied from class: `ForkJoinTask`
    Returns the result that would be returned by `ForkJoinTask.join()`, even if this task completed abnormally, or `null` if this task is not known to have been completed. This method is designed to aid debugging, as well as to support extensions. Its use in any other context is discouraged.
    Specified by:
      `getRawResult` in class `ForkJoinTask<V>`
    Returns:
      the result, or `null` if not completed

  - ### setRawResult

    protected final void setRawResult(V value)
    Description copied from class: `ForkJoinTask`
    Forces the given value to be returned as a result. This method is designed to support extensions, and should not in general be called otherwise.
    Specified by:
      `setRawResult` in class `ForkJoinTask<V>`
    Parameters:
      `value` - the value

  - ### exec

    protected final boolean exec()
    Implements execution conventions for RecursiveTask.
    Specified by:
      `exec` in class `ForkJoinTask<V>`
    Returns:
      `true` if this task is known to have completed normally