What are the different garbage collection techniques in programming?

What are the different garbage collection techniques in programming?

There are several garbage collection techniques, including reference counting, mark-and-sweep, and generational garbage collection. Would you like a detailed comparison?

Yes, please explain each technique briefly.

Sure! Reference counting keeps track of the number of references to each object. When the count drops to zero, the object is collected. Mark-and-sweep, on the other hand, marks all reachable objects and then sweeps away the unmarked ones. Generational garbage collection divides objects into generations and collects younger objects more frequently, as they tend to become unreachable faster.

What are the pros and cons of each technique?

Reference counting can lead to immediate collection but struggles with circular references. Mark-and-sweep is more efficient for large heaps but can cause pauses. Generational collection optimizes performance but adds complexity.

Which technique is the most commonly used?

Generational garbage collection is widely used in modern programming languages due to its efficiency in managing memory.