What are closures in JavaScript and how do they cause memory leaks?

Can you explain what closures are in JavaScript?

Sure! Closures are functions that have access to their outer function's scope even after the outer function has returned.

How do closures work in practice?

In practice, closures allow you to create private variables. For example, a function can return another function that retains access to its variables.

Can closures cause memory leaks?

Yes, if closures hold onto references of large objects or DOM elements, they can prevent garbage collection, leading to memory leaks.

How can I avoid memory leaks when using closures?

To avoid memory leaks, ensure that you nullify references to large objects when they are no longer needed.