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Upper GC in Java

Garbage Collection in Java is an automatic memory management process that frees memory by deleting unreachable objects, preventing memory leaks and OutOfMemoryErrors. Key concepts include heap memory organization into Young and Old generations, object reachability, and the three main steps of garbage collection: mark, sweep, and compact. Various types of garbage collectors exist, such as Serial, Parallel, G1, and ZGC, each suited for different application needs, while best practices recommend allowing the JVM to manage garbage collection autonomously.

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13 views4 pages

Upper GC in Java

Garbage Collection in Java is an automatic memory management process that frees memory by deleting unreachable objects, preventing memory leaks and OutOfMemoryErrors. Key concepts include heap memory organization into Young and Old generations, object reachability, and the three main steps of garbage collection: mark, sweep, and compact. Various types of garbage collectors exist, such as Serial, Parallel, G1, and ZGC, each suited for different application needs, while best practices recommend allowing the JVM to manage garbage collection autonomously.

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splusmm24
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Garbage collection in Java

- by utk

What is Garbage Collection?


Garbage Collection in Java is the process of automatically freeing memory by deleting
objects that are no longer reachable by any part of the program.

Java handles memory management so you don't have to explicitly free() or delete()
objects (unlike C/C++).

🔹 Why Do We Need It?


• Prevent memory leaks.
• Avoid OutOfMemoryError.
• Ensure efficient use of heap memory.
• Simplify development — less worry about manual memory management.

🔹 Key Concepts

1. Heap Memory

Where all objects in Java are stored. Divided into:

• Young Generation (Young Gen)


o Where new objects are created.
o Includes:
▪ Eden Space – where objects are first created.
▪ Survivor Spaces – S0 and S1, for objects that survive garbage
collection.
• Old Generation (Tenured Gen)
o Holds long-lived objects that survived several GCs.
• Metaspace (Java 8+)
o Stores class metadata (like class definitions).

2. Reachability

An object is eligible for GC when it's no longer referenced.

java
CopyEdit
String s = new String("Hello");
s = null; // Now "Hello" is eligible for GC

🔹 How Garbage Collection Works


1. Mark – Identify which objects are still reachable.
2. Sweep – Delete unreferenced (unreachable) objects.
3. Compact – Rearrange memory to reduce fragmentation.

🔹 Types of Garbage Collectors


Collector Name Description
Serial GC Single-threaded, good for small apps
Uses multiple threads for GC (default in many
Parallel GC
cases)
CMS (Concurrent Mark Sweep) Low pause time, deprecated in Java 14
Low pause, handles large heaps, default from Java
G1 (Garbage First)
9+
ZGC (Java 11+) Scalable, low latency, for very large heaps
Shenandoah GC Low-pause collector from RedHat (Java 12+)
🔹 Forcing Garbage Collection (Not Recommended)
java
CopyEdit
System.gc(); // Just a request, not guaranteed

Use only in specific test or tuning cases. The JVM decides the best time to collect.

🔹 Example of GC in Action
java
CopyEdit
public class GCDemo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
GCDemo obj = new GCDemo();
obj = null; // Now eligible for GC

// Requesting GC
System.gc();
}

@Override
protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
System.out.println("Garbage Collected!");
}
}

🔹 Best Practices

Let the JVM handle GC


Avoid memory leaks by cleaning up references
Use tools like VisualVM, jconsole, or YourKit for monitoring
Profile large applications for GC performance

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