Garbage Collection (GC) is a fundamental process in programming that manages memory by recycling unused resources to prevent memory leaks and system crashes. It involves strategies like Mark-and-Sweep, Copying, and Reference Counting, each with its own approach to handling heap memory. Languages like Java and Python have built-in GC mechanisms, employing various algorithms to manage object lifecycles and optimize system performance. Understanding GC is crucial for developers to ensure efficient application execution.
Show More
Garbage Collection automatically identifies and recycles unused memory in a program, preventing memory leaks and optimizing performance
Understanding the difference between heap memory (for dynamically allocated objects) and stack memory (for static duration variables) is crucial for effective garbage collection
Different methods, such as Mark-and-Sweep, Copying, and Reference Counting, are used to manage memory and prevent overflow and fragmentation
The first phase of garbage collection involves identifying active objects in use
In the second phase, the collector frees memory occupied by unreachable objects
The optional third phase involves defragmenting memory by relocating remaining objects
Java's garbage collection is managed by the JVM and uses different collectors for different types of applications
Python's built-in garbage collector uses reference counting and a cyclic collector to optimize memory management
This algorithm tracks the number of references to each object and deallocates when the count reaches zero
These algorithms identify and clear live objects, with Mark-Compact also defragmenting memory
This algorithm relocates live objects to a new memory space, leaving behind free space
Incremental, Generational, Parallel, Concurrent, and Real-Time Garbage Collection aim to optimize performance and meet specific application demands
00
GC's role in preventing memory leaks
Automatically recycles unused memory to avoid depletion and system issues.
01
Heap vs. Stack memory in GC
GC manages heap for dynamic objects, not stack for static variables.
02
Consequences of ineffective GC
Leads to memory overflow, fragmentation, and potential program crashes.
