RECOVERY OF SYNCHRONIZATION CONSTRUCTS

A method and apparatus for managing the association of objects with synchronization constructs used to synchronize those objects with threads is described. A cache of synchronization constructs is provided. Synchronization constructs are used to synchronize objects with threads. When a thread requests synchronization with an object, a determination is made of whether a synchronization construct is already associated with the object. If a synchronization construct is already associated with the object, then that synchronization construct is used to synchronize the object with the thread. After association of a synchronization construct with an object, the association is maintained even when the synchronization construct meets termination criteria. Subsequently, a determination is made of whether a collection enabling condition exists. If a collection enabling condition exists, the association of objects with synchronization constructs that meet the termination criteria is terminated. A local table is assigned to each thread. The entries in the local table assigned to a particular thread contain information used to access a synchronization construct currently associated with an object on which the thread is or has in the past synchronized.