How to force garbage collection in Java?

Question

Is it possible to force garbage collection in Java, even if it is tricky to do? I know about System.gc(); and Runtime.gc(); but they only suggest t

Answer 1

YES it is almost possible to forced you have to call to methods in the same order and at the same time this ones are:

System.gc ();
System.runFinalization ();

even if is just one object to clean the use of this two methods at the same time force the garbage collector to use the finalise() method of unreachable object freeing the memory assigned and doing what the finalize() method states.

HOWEVER it is a terrible practice to use the garbage collector because the use of it could introduce an over load to the software that may be even worst than on the memory, the garbage collector has his own thread which is not possible to control plus depending on the algorithm used by the gc could take more time and is consider very inefficient, you should check your software if it worst with the help of the gc because it is definitely broke, a good solution must not depend on the gc.

NOTE: just to keep on mind this will works only if in the finalize method is not a reassignment of the object, if this happens the object will keep alive an it will have a resurrection which is technically possible.