Multiple client programs (or multiple threads within a client program) can share the same client if the client was configured as a shared state client when it was created. Sharing a client allows multiple client programs (or multiple threads within a client program), each using its own session, to process documents from a single client queue in parallel on a first-come, first-served basis.

Any changes to the state for a shared-state client affect all of the sessions using that client. For example, any changes to the document subscriptions or to the queue, such as clearing it, affect all the client sessions that connect to the shared-state client.

For more information about configuring clients to share a client state, see the appropriate programming guide.