finalize () method is used just before an object is destroyed and can be called just prior to garbage collection.
In Core Java, the finalize()
method is a method provided by the Object
class. It is called by the garbage collector when it determines that there are no more references to the object. The purpose of the finalize()
method is to allow an object to perform cleanup operations before it is garbage-collected.
Here’s a brief overview of how the finalize()
method works:
- When an object becomes unreachable and is eligible for garbage collection, the garbage collector calls its
finalize()
method before reclaiming the memory occupied by the object. - The
finalize()
method can be overridden in a class to provide custom cleanup code, such as closing resources (e.g., closing files or network connections) or releasing any acquired resources. - It’s important to note that relying on
finalize()
for resource cleanup is not recommended in modern Java programming. Instead, it’s better to use other mechanisms like try-with-resources for resource management.
Example of overriding the finalize()
method:
public class MyClass {
// Other class members and methods...
@Override
protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
try {
// Cleanup code: close resources, release acquired resources, etc.
} finally {
// Call the finalize method of the superclass
super.finalize();
}
}
}
Again, it’s essential to use more modern and robust mechanisms (such as try-with-resources, AutoCloseable
, etc.) for resource management in Java rather than relying on the finalize()
method.