What do you mean by garbage collection in data structure?

Answer 1

all classes and variables created in a program are put on something called the Heap, which is stored in main memory (RAM).

The Garbage collector gets rid of any class or variable that becomes impossible to reference ever again in the program.

For example, say you have a main method and from there you call another method, any local variables created in that other method will be put on the heap while they are in use, ie that function is running. As soon as the method ends, the Garbage collector will come and "release" the memory where those variables were for use in other parts, because you can never access them again when the method finishes.

Answer 2

In order to use memory, programs conduct an action called "allocation" where part of the memory is set aside for a particular use. The C malloc() function and its counterpart calloc() are used to allocate memory.

When this memory is no longer needed, it is freed with the free() function. The prototypes for both functions are available in stdlib.h.

However, as memory is allocated and freed in various locations, the memory can become fragmented. Sometimes requests to allocate memory will fail as a result. The areas that are causing the allocation problems are referred to as "garbage" for historic reasons.

"Garbage collection" is the process of moving allocated memory around to make larger contiguous blocks available (like defragmenting your hard disk). However, due to technologies existing in terms of memory management, garbage collection is a very low priority for C and C++.

Answer 3

In computer programming, it is a method used to free unused memory. Objects that are unreachable from the program will eventually be cleared by a process called the "garbage collector". Objects typically become unreachable when the program that created them gets out of scope, or when the variable that points to them gets re-used and points to another object. There is no specific guarantee WHEN the garbage collector will free up the unused memory; at the latest, it should run if the program is low on memory.

Answer 4

it means it is automatically used to release memory which is allocated by compiler.