Types of Garbage Collectors - 10.5.1 | 10. JVM Internals and Performance Tuning | Advance Programming In Java
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10.5.1 - Types of Garbage Collectors

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Interactive Audio Lesson

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Introduction to Garbage Collectors

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Teacher
Teacher

Good morning, everyone! Today, we're exploring a critical component of the JVM: garbage collectors. Can anyone tell me what a garbage collector does?

Student 1
Student 1

Isn’t it the part that recycles unused memory?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The garbage collector automatically frees up memory by removing objects that are no longer in use. This helps in efficient memory management. Now, can anyone guess one type of garbage collector?

Student 2
Student 2

Maybe the Serial GC?

Teacher
Teacher

Great job! Serial GC is indeed one type. It's simplified for single-threaded environments. Let's remember the acronym 'SPCG' for Single-Threaded Parallel Collector Garbage collection.

Student 3
Student 3

What about applications with more threads? Is there a GC for that?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! That's where Parallel GC comes in. It uses multiple threads to handle minor collections, improving throughput. Let's summarize: SPGC for single-threaded and the multiple threads for Parallel GC.

Concurrent Mark-Sweep (CMS) GC

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Teacher
Teacher

Next, we have the Concurrent Mark-Sweep or CMS collector, which is designed to minimize pause times. Why might that be important in applications?

Student 4
Student 4

It’s important for user experience, especially in real-time applications, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly, Student_4! CMS runs concurrently with the application threads to reclaim memory without significant delays. Can someone explain how that might be an advantage?

Student 1
Student 1

Users won't notice lag if the garbage collection happens in the background?

Teacher
Teacher

Precisely! Now, let's remember, 'C for Concurrent' and 'M for Mark-Sweep.' Those together form CMS GC.

Garbage First (G1) GC

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s chat about the Garbage First collector or G1. What stands out about G1 compared to the others we’ve discussed?

Student 2
Student 2

I think it organizes the heap in regions?

Teacher
Teacher

That's correct! It divides the heap into regions and prioritizes regions with the most garbage. This helps optimize both latency and throughput. Can anyone think of a scenario where using G1 would be beneficial?

Student 3
Student 3

For large applications that run continuously and need to maintain quick responses!

Teacher
Teacher

Great point! Let’s remember to associate G1 with β€˜Garbage First’ in our notes. It’s crucial for large-scale applications!

ZGC and Shenandoah for Low-Latency Needs

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Teacher
Teacher

Finally, we delve into ZGC and Shenandoah, which are designed for low-latency garbage collection. Can anyone recall the primary benefit of these collectors?

Student 4
Student 4

They reduce pause times significantly even in large heap sizes?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Both ZGC and Shenandoah allow applications to perform efficiently, even with large memory needs. Let’s summarize: remember Z for ZGC and S for Shenandoah as the champions of low-latency performance!

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section details various types of garbage collectors available in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and their specific use cases.

Standard

The section covers different garbage collector types, such as Serial GC, Parallel GC, CMS, G1 GC, ZGC, and Shenandoah, elaborating on each collector's purpose, use cases, and benefits for optimizing Java application performance.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

In this section, we explore the various types of garbage collectors (GC) provided by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) designed to manage memory automatically. Each type of garbage collector serves different environments and performance needs, playing a crucial role in optimizing memory usage and application performance.

  1. Serial GC: This garbage collector is ideal for single-threaded environments, utilizing a simple, stop-the-world strategy for garbage collection. It's effective for small applications where pause time is less of an issue.
  2. Parallel GC: Designed for throughput optimization, Parallel GC employs multiple threads for minor garbage collection events, leading to efficient reduction of memory usage, especially in multi-threaded applications.
  3. CMS (Concurrent Mark-Sweep): Aimed at applications where low pause times are critical, CMS operates concurrently with application threads to minimize the time spent in memory reclamation, making it suitable for interactive applications.
  4. G1 GC (Garbage First): G1 GC balances both latency and throughput by breaking the heap into regions. It prioritizes garbage collection in regions with the most garbage first, thus improving performance in larger applications.
  5. ZGC and Shenandoah: Introduced in Java 11 and later, these collectors focus on low-latency performance for large heaps. They allow for reduced pause times while providing robust memory management features.

Understanding the types of garbage collectors helps developers make informed decisions according to their application needs, especially when considering performance tuning and optimization strategies.

Audio Book

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Serial Garbage Collector

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β€’ Serial GC: For single-threaded environments.

Detailed Explanation

The Serial Garbage Collector is designed for environments where there is only one thread to handle garbage collection. This means that it processes one object at a time and pauses the application while it runs. It's simple and can be efficient in single-threaded scenarios but may cause delays when managing larger amounts of data since it cannot use multiple threads to speed up the process.

Examples & Analogies

Think of the Serial Garbage Collector like a single worker at a recycling center. The worker can only process one item at a time. While it's effective for small batches of recyclable materials, if a truck delivers a massive load, the worker has to pause other operations, causing delays.

Parallel Garbage Collector

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β€’ Parallel GC: Uses multiple threads for minor GC.

Detailed Explanation

The Parallel Garbage Collector enhances performance by utilizing multiple threads to handle garbage collection tasks, particularly during the minor collection phase. This approach speeds up the garbage collection process in multi-threaded applications, reducing pause times while the application continues running. It is especially beneficial for applications that require high throughput.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a team of workers clamoring to clean up a large park on a weekend. Instead of one person picking up litter, several work together, tackling different areas simultaneously. This teamwork leads to a much faster cleanup than if only one person were doing it.

Concurrent Mark-Sweep (CMS) Collector

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β€’ CMS (Concurrent Mark-Sweep): Minimizes pause times.

Detailed Explanation

The Concurrent Mark-Sweep Garbage Collector is designed to minimize application pause times, which can significantly improve the user experience. It performs most of its work concurrently with the application threads, meaning the application continues running while the garbage collector identifies and removes unused objects. However, it can lead to fragmentation in memory over time.

Examples & Analogies

Think of the CMS collector like a waiter in a busy restaurant. Instead of stopping service to clear the tables, the waiter cleans up while still serving customers, allowing for a smoother dining experience, even if this process might leave some tables a bit messy initially.

Garbage-First (G1) Collector

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β€’ G1 GC (Garbage First): Balanced for latency and throughput.

Detailed Explanation

The Garbage-First (G1) Garbage Collector is designed to optimize both latency and throughput. It divides the heap into smaller regions and prioritizes garbage collection in the regions with the most unused memory, hence the name 'Garbage-First.' This approach results in shorter pause times and makes G1 ideal for applications requiring a balance between responsiveness and efficient memory management.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a janitor in a school who doesn't wait until the end of the day to clean. Instead, they check each classroom throughout the day and clean the ones that are the dirtiest first. This way, they're ensuring that the most used areas are taken care of promptly, minimizing disruptions for the students.

Low-Latency Collectors

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β€’ ZGC and Shenandoah: Low-latency collectors for large heaps (Java 11+).

Detailed Explanation

ZGC and Shenandoah are advanced garbage collectors introduced in Java 11 and beyond. They are designed specifically for large heaps and offer low-latency garbage collection, allowing applications to continue running without noticeable interruptions. This is particularly important for applications that require real-time processing or constant availability.

Examples & Analogies

Think of ZGC and Shenandoah as the highly efficient staff in a busy airport. They manage to transfer passengers and luggage smoothly without creating long wait times, ensuring that flights leave on schedule and the travel experience remains uninterrupted, even with a high volume of travelers.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Serial GC: Designed for single-threaded applications, using a straightforward strategy.

  • Parallel GC: Utilizes multiple threads for efficient garbage collection in multi-threaded environments.

  • CMS: Aims at reducing pause times for applications where responsiveness is critical.

  • G1 GC: Balances throughput and latency by focusing on garbage collection in prioritized regions.

  • ZGC and Shenandoah: Low-latency collectors that provide efficient garbage management for large applications.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • In a single-user application, Serial GC can manage memory without much overhead.

  • In a gaming application where performance is critical, Parallel GC can handle the memory needs efficiently.

  • For web applications that require quick interactions, CMS can minimize lag caused by garbage collection.

  • A large-scale enterprise application can benefit from G1 GC by optimizing memory use while maintaining user experience.

  • ZGC can be advantageous in data-intensive applications where large amounts of memory must be managed without long pauses.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎡 Rhymes Time

  • Serial's the solo act, collecting on its own, Parallel brings the crew, making the process more known.

πŸ“– Fascinating Stories

  • In a busy village, the Serials took care of one house at a time, while the Parallels worked in teams to keep the entire block tidy!

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • S for Single (Serial), P for Pairs (Parallel), C for Concurrent (CMS), G for Garbage Focused (G1), Z for Zero pause (ZGC), and S for Shenandoah.

🎯 Super Acronyms

S.P.C.G.Z.S. - Serial, Parallel, CMS, G1, ZGC, Shenandoah - remember the first letters!

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Serial GC

    Definition:

    A garbage collector ideal for single-threaded environments that uses a stop-the-world approach.

  • Term: Parallel GC

    Definition:

    A garbage collector that utilizes multiple threads to improve throughput during minor garbage collection events.

  • Term: CMS

    Definition:

    Concurrent Mark-Sweep, a collector that minimizes pause times by running concurrently with application threads.

  • Term: G1 GC

    Definition:

    Garbage First GC, which prioritizes regions with the most garbage for optimal efficiency in larger applications.

  • Term: ZGC

    Definition:

    Z Garbage Collector, a low-latency collector designed for large heaps introduced in Java 11.

  • Term: Shenandoah

    Definition:

    Another low-latency garbage collector for large heaps that focuses on reducing pause times.