java: garbage collection and The finalize () method

• Objects are dynamically allocated by using the new operator.
• Let it know about how such objects are destroyed and their memory is released for later reallocation.
• In some languages, such as c++, dynamically allocated objects must be manually released by use of delete operator

Java takes a different approach:

• It handles deallocation for object automatically. The technique that accomplishes this deallocation is called Garbage Collection.
• It works like this, when no references to an object exist, that object assumed as to be no longer needed, and the memory occupied by the object can be deleted.
• There is no explicit mechanism to destroy objects.
• Garbage collection only occurs if at all during the execution of your program.
• There is one or more objects exist that are no longer needed.

The finalize () method:

• Sometimes an object will need to perform some action when it is destroyed.
• For example:- if an object is holding some non-java resources such as file handling or window character font, then you might want to make sure these resources are freed before an object is destroyed.
• To handle such situations, java provides a mechanism called finalization.
• By using finalization, you can define actions that will occur, when an object is just about to be destroyed by the garbage collector.
• To add finalize to a class, you simply define the finalize () method, you will specify those actions that must be performed before an object destroyed.
• The garbage collector runs periodically checking for object that are no longer referenced by running state and at the same time the action specified inside the finalize method is freed.
• The general form of finalize () method is

 Protected void finalize ()  
 {  
 Finalization code here  
 }  

• The keyword protected is a specified that prevents access to finalize () by code defined outside its class.
• Finalize () is only called just prior to garbage collection it is not called when an object is removed from memory.
• Therefore, the presence of finalize method provide the safe environment to system resources, used by the object.