Garbage collection work in Java, and why is it important?

Posted by j1234 on
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Garbage collection in Java is the process of automatically managing memory by reclaiming unused objects and resources, freeing developers from manually handling memory allocation and deallocation. The JVM Garbage Collector (GC) identifies objects that are no longer reachable and removes them to free up memory.

How it works:

Mark Phase: The GC identifies objects that are still in use (reachable).
Sweep Phase: Unused objects are removed, and their memory is reclaimed.
Compaction: In some cases, the GC rearranges memory to prevent fragmentation.
Importance:

Prevents memory leaks by cleaning up objects no longer needed.
Enhances application performance and stability.
Simplifies coding, as developers don't need to manually manage memory.
However, understanding GC behavior and minimizing unnecessary object creation can help developers optimize performance further.