How does reference counting work in memory management?

How does reference counting work in memory management?

Reference counting is a memory management technique where each object has a counter that tracks how many references point to it.

What happens when the reference count drops to zero?

When the reference count drops to zero, it means no references to the object exist, and it can be safely deallocated.

Are there any drawbacks to using reference counting?

Yes, reference counting can lead to circular references, where two objects reference each other, preventing their deallocation.

How can circular references be avoided?

Circular references can be avoided by using weak references, which do not increase the reference count of an object.