Quick Answer
Reference types control GC behavior. Strong reference (normal): GC never collects. Soft reference (SoftReference): GC collects only when memory is low - good for caches. Weak reference (WeakReference): GC collects at next GC cycle - useful for canonicalization maps. Phantom reference (PhantomReference): enqueued after object is collected - for cleanup after GC. WeakHashMap uses weak keys.
Answer
SoftReference cleared when memory is low; used for caching. WeakReference cleared during GC if no strong references exist. PhantomReference used for cleanup before object collection.
S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
