What are weak references in programming?

Can you explain what weak references are in programming?

Sure! 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 avoiding memory leaks, especially in cases like caching or event listeners.

Can you give me an example of how to use weak references in Java?

Certainly! In Java, you can use the WeakReference class from the java.lang.ref package to create weak references.

What happens when the object referenced by a weak reference is garbage collected?

When the object is garbage collected, the weak reference will return null when accessed.