Key Methods in the Java RecursiveAction & RecursiveTask Subclasses

The video focuses on Java's RecursiveAction and RecursiveTask subclasses, both extensions of ForkJoinTask. RecursiveAction employs a compute() method that returns void, implying no return value; its primary role is computation. If data sizes are small, the computation is direct; otherwise, tasks are divided to run in parallel. RecursiveTask also uses a compute() method but returns a value, facilitating the merging of results from smaller tasks. Both classes use the Template Method design pattern, having an exec() method (the "template method") that triggers compute() (which is the "hook method"). RecursiveAction does not return a value, but instead can store results in collection, whereas RecursiveTask returns results that can be aggregated.