CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javareferencegarbage-collectionweak-references
KGM
KGM

Reputation: 294

How to make weak references in Java?

Let me explain it the following way: you have an Object a holding a reference to an Object b. you know that if only a holds a reference to b, then b is not needed anymore, and should be collected by the GC.

Now imagine, a is always accessible.

The gc realizes that b can be accessed through a.

Therefore, the GC will never collect b!

How can i make the GC collect b if only a has a reference to it?

is there any way to make a reference that is ignored by the GC (weak reference), so that when the above conditions are met, the gc collects b, leaving a null pointer to a?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 100

Answers (1)

kshetline
kshetline

Reputation: 13682

You used the tag "weak-references" in your question, and that's the answer right there. Java has a WeakReference class for doing just this, holding references to objects that can nevertheless still be garbage collected. If the object to which you have a WeakReference gets collected, the WeakReference returns null.

Upvotes: 3

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