An object’s finalize() method cannot be invoked by the garbage collector while the object is still reachable. However, an object’s finalize() method may be invoked by other objects.
No, an object’s finalize() method cannot be invoked while the object is reachable. The finalize() method in Java is called by the garbage collector before reclaiming the memory occupied by an object that is no longer reachable (i.e., there are no references to the object). The purpose of the finalize() method is to allow an object to perform cleanup operations before it is garbage collected.
If an object is still reachable (i.e., there are still references to it), the garbage collector considers it still in use, and the finalize() method won’t be invoked. Once the object becomes unreachable, the garbage collector may schedule it for finalization, and the finalize() method will be called before the object is actually reclaimed.
It’s worth noting that relying on finalize() for resource cleanup is not recommended, and it’s generally better to use other mechanisms, such as try-with-resources for managing external resources. The finalize() method has some drawbacks, including unpredictable timing and the fact that it’s not guaranteed to be called.