CS202 Java-73
finalize()
is not a destructor!
lBut! This is not a
destructor.
lJava objects do not
always get garbage collected –
lThe garbage collector is only run after all references
to an object have been
released and memory is insufficient (or running low). It may just automatically return the
memory to the operator system
after execution!
•So, use finalize()
for releasing memory that the garbage collector cannot predict, but you may need to explicitly
cause the garbage collector to be
exeucted: System.gc()
lBottom line,
finalize() cannot be relied upon.
lEven functions that look like they should cause finalize
to be used are problematic
and at times buggy. Its invokation
is not guaranteed!