Garbage Collection

Garbage collection in Java automates memory management by identifying and reclaiming unused objects, relieving developers from manual memory allocation. Various algorithms like Serial, Parallel, and G1 collectors optimize for different application needs, prioritizing either throughput or low latency. The process involves phases of marking alive objects and sweeping away the unreachable ones, with specific growth patterns and lifecycle transitions for objects through different memory regions. Additionally, concepts like GC roots, minor and major garbage collections shape how efficiently memory is managed during application execution.