What are the best practices for handling circular references in programming?

What are the best practices for handling circular references in programming?

Circular references occur when two or more objects reference each other, which can lead to memory leaks. Best practices include using weak references, breaking the cycle, and ensuring proper cleanup.

Can you explain how weak references work?

Weak references allow an object to be referenced without preventing it from being garbage collected. This is useful in avoiding memory leaks caused by circular references.

What are some common scenarios where circular references occur?

Common scenarios include linked data structures like trees and graphs, or when two objects need to reference each other, such as in parent-child relationships.

How can I detect circular references in my code?

You can use tools like static code analyzers or implement algorithms that track object references during execution to detect circular references.