---
title: "What is the purpose of garbage collection in Java, and when is it used?"  
description: "What is the purpose of garbage collection in Java, and when is it used?"  
author: "Sumit Kesarwani"  
published: 2014-08-23  
updated: 2020-09-24  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1978/what-is-the-purpose-of-garbage-collection-in-java-and-when-is-it-used  
category: "java"  
tags: ["java"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is the purpose of garbage collection in Java, and when is it used?

The purpose of garbage collection is to identify and discard objects that are no longer needed by a program so that their resources can be reclaimed and reused.

A Java object is subject to garbage collection when it becomes unreachable to the program in which it is used.

## Answers

### Answer by Sumit Kesarwani

The purpose of garbage collection is to identify and discard objects that are no longer needed by a program so that their resources can be reclaimed and reused.

A Java object is subject to garbage collection when it becomes unreachable to the program in which it is used.


---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1978/what-is-the-purpose-of-garbage-collection-in-java-and-when-is-it-used

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