What are weak references in programming?

What are weak references in programming?

Weak references are references that do not prevent the referenced object from being garbage collected.

Why would I use weak references instead of strong references?

Weak references are useful for caching and avoiding memory leaks, as they allow objects to be collected when no strong references exist.

Can you give me an example of how to implement weak references?

Sure! In Python, you can use the weakref module to create weak references. Here's a simple example: import weakref.

Are there any downsides to using weak references?

Yes, the main downside is that weak references can lead to unexpected behavior if the referenced object is collected unexpectedly.