Reactive Streams
A standard specification for asynchronous stream processing with non-blocking backpressure on the JVM.
What is Reactive Streams?
Reactive Streams is a specification and standard for asynchronous stream processing with non-blocking backpressure on the JVM. It defines a set of interfaces and rules that enable libraries to handle potentially unbounded sequences of data across asynchronous boundaries—like between threads or network hosts—while preventing fast producers from overwhelming slow consumers. The specification ensures interoperability between different implementations through a common API and a Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK) for conformance testing.
Library developers and engineers building or integrating reactive systems on the JVM, such as those creating data processing pipelines, reactive frameworks, or networked services that require efficient stream handling with backpressure.
Developers choose Reactive Streams because it provides a vendor-neutral, standardized approach to asynchronous stream processing with guaranteed backpressure, eliminating ad-hoc solutions and enabling interoperability between different reactive libraries. Its focus on non-blocking, thread-safe semantics ensures predictable performance and resource management in high-throughput scenarios.
Overview
Reactive Streams Specification for the JVM
Use Cases
Best For
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