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How does the garbage collector work in Java, and how can you control it?

Garbage collector works in Java, and how can you control it?


In Java, the garbage collector is responsible for automatically managing the memory used by the program, including deallocating memory that is no longer needed. Here's how it works:

  1. Allocation: When an object is created using the "new" keyword, memory is allocated for that object on the heap.

  2. Usage: The program can then use the object as needed.

  3. Identification: When the garbage collector runs, it identifies which objects are no longer being used by the program. This is done by looking at the object graph, which is a set of objects that reference each other.

  4. Marking: The garbage collector then marks each object that is still in use, starting from the roots of the object graph (such as static variables and the stack).

  5. Sweeping: The garbage collector then sweeps through the heap, deallocating memory for any objects that were not marked during the marking phase.

  6. Compaction: Finally, the garbage collector may also perform compaction, which means it moves objects closer together on the heap to reduce fragmentation and improve performance.

To control the garbage collector in Java, you can use the following options:

  1. -Xmx: This option sets the maximum heap size that can be used by the program. If the program tries to allocate more memory than this, an OutOfMemoryError will be thrown.

  2. -Xms: This option sets the initial heap size that is allocated when the program starts. Setting this to a larger value can reduce the frequency of garbage collections.

  3. System.gc(): You can also manually trigger garbage collection by calling System.gc(). However, note that this is just a hint to the JVM, and it is up to the JVM to decide whether or not to perform garbage collection at that time.

  4. Finalize(): You can use the finalize() method to perform cleanup actions before an object is garbage collected. However, note that the finalize() method may not be called immediately after an object becomes eligible for garbage collection, and it may be called only once.

It is generally not recommended to try to control the garbage collector in Java, as it is designed to work automatically and efficiently in most cases. However, if you are experiencing performance issues related to garbage collection, you may want to experiment with different heap sizes and trigger garbage collection manually to see if that helps.


In Java, the garbage collector is responsible for managing the memory used by the program, specifically for reclaiming memory that is no longer in use by the program. The garbage collector works by periodically identifying memory that is no longer in use by the program and freeing it up for reuse.

When an object is created in Java, it is allocated memory on the heap. The garbage collector keeps track of all the objects allocated on the heap, and periodically identifies those that are no longer in use by the program. The garbage collector then frees up the memory used by those objects so that it can be reused for new objects.

The garbage collector in Java is designed to be automatic and does not require any explicit action from the programmer. However, there are certain ways to control its behavior:

  1. System.gc(): This method is used to request the garbage collector to run. Although it is not guaranteed that it will run immediately, it can give a hint to the JVM to start the garbage collection process.

  2. Runtime.getRuntime().gc(): This method is used to suggest to the JVM to run the garbage collector. It is similar to System.gc() but can provide more control over the garbage collection process.

  3. Tuning JVM parameters: The behavior of the garbage collector can be tuned by specifying certain parameters while starting the JVM. These parameters can control the frequency and type of garbage collection.

  4. Finalize method: The finalize method is called by the garbage collector before an object is deleted from memory. The programmer can use this method to perform any necessary cleanup operations before the object is deleted.

  5. Weak, Soft and Phantom References: Java provides different types of references to objects, including Weak, Soft, and Phantom references. These can be used to control when the garbage collector deletes objects from memory.

Overall, while the garbage collector in Java is designed to be automatic, it is possible to control its behavior to some extent using the methods and parameters described above

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