Java's memory management system is crucial for performance and reliability, abstracting low-level memory operations and offering automated memory allocation and garbage collection.
The Java Memory Model (JMM) defines how threads interact through memory, with main memory shared among threads and each thread having its working memory.
JMM issues like stale reads and race conditions are handled using synchronization primitives like synchronized blocks, volatile variables, and happens-before relationships.
Understanding JMM is essential for writing correct and thread-safe Java programs, avoiding concurrency pitfalls, and improving code consistency.
The structure of JVM memory includes Heap (Young & Old Generation), Stack, Program Counter Register, Method Area (Metaspace), and Native Method Stack.
Understanding JVM memory segmentation enables efficient resource management and optimizations like generational garbage collection and class-loading strategies.
The object lifecycle from creation to disposal follows a pattern of allocation in Eden space, survival in Survivor spaces, and promotion to the Old Generation based on reachability.
Garbage collection in Java automates memory reclamation, with strategies like generational garbage collection dividing the heap and optimizing memory usage.
Types of Java garbage collectors like Serial, Parallel, CMS, G1, ZGC, and Shenandoah cater to different workload requirements, from simple to real-time applications.
Tuning JVM memory parameters (heap sizes, generation ratios, collector algorithms) is crucial for optimizing performance, throughput, and latency.
Memory leaks in Java can occur despite garbage collection, often due to static fields, event listeners, thread-local variables, or leaking classloaders.