Summary

Remove java.lang.Thread.stop().

Problem

The no-arg Thread.stop method has been deprecated since JDK 1.2, deprecated for removal since JDK 18, and re-specified to throw UnsupportedOperationException unconditionally since JDK 20. It is time to finally remove the method.

Solution

Remove java.lang.Thread.stop().

Remove the "Java Thread Primitive Deprecation" page.

Update the specification of java.lang.ThreadDeath to not link to Thread.stop.

A release note is planned.

There is follow on docs work (guides, not specs) to ensure that all references to this method are removed.

Specification

Remove java.lang.Thread.stop().

Change java.lang.ThreadDeath as follows:

  * An instance of {@code ThreadDeath} was originally specified to be thrown
- * by a victim thread when "stopped" with {@link Thread#stop()}.
+ * by a victim thread when "stopped" with the {@link Thread} API.
  *
- * @deprecated {@link Thread#stop()} was originally specified to "stop" a victim
- *      thread by causing the victim thread to throw a {@code ThreadDeath}. It
- *      was inherently unsafe and deprecated in an early JDK release. The ability
- *      to "stop" a thread with {@code Thread.stop} has been removed and the
- *      {@code Thread.stop} method changed to throw an exception. Consequently,
- *      {@code ThreadDeath} is also deprecated, for removal.
+ * @deprecated {@code Thread} originally specified a "{@code stop}" method to stop a
+ *      victim thread by causing the victim thread to throw a {@code ThreadDeath}. It
+ *      was inherently unsafe and deprecated in an early JDK release. The stop method
+ *      has since been removed and {@code ThreadDeath} is deprecated, for removal.