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How JavaScript Handles Garbage Collection and Memory
- JavaScript manages memory through the stack and heap. Primitives like numbers are stored on the stack, while objects go to the heap.
- Function calls create stack frames that hold local variables and parameters, which are discarded once the function completes.
- Memory usage grows as programs run, especially with dynamic data structures like arrays that reside in the heap.
- Closures in JavaScript can retain memory even after the outer function finishes, influencing garbage collection.
- Objects are shared by reference, and memory remains active until all references are released.
- The garbage collector in JavaScript decides what data to clean up based on reachability from active parts of the program.
- Modern engines like V8 use a generational garbage collector that marks and sweeps memory to reclaim unused objects.
- References to variables, closures, and nested objects can prolong memory retention until they are no longer reachable.
- Circular references are handled by modern engines to ensure proper clean-up when no external references remain.
- Garbage collection in JavaScript is crucial for maintaining memory efficiency and program performance.
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