public class TestCalc { public static void main(String[] args) { class StoppableThread extends Thread { private volatile boolean stopped; // defaults to false @Override public void run() { while(!stopped) System.out.println("running"); } void stopThread() { stopped = true; } } StoppableThread thd = new StoppableThread(); thd.start(); try { Thread.sleep(1000); // sleep for 1 second } catch (InterruptedException ie) { } thd.stopThread(); } }