Garbage collection is a critical aspect of memory management in Python, responsible for automatically reclaiming memory occupied by objects that are no longer in use. While Python handles memory allocation and deallocation transparently for developers, understanding how garbage collection works can help optimize memory usage and prevent memory leaks in your Python programs.
In this guide, we’ll explore the concept of garbage collection in Python, providing insights into its mechanisms and practical examples to illustrate its importance.
Introduction to Garbage Collection
In Python, memory management is handled by the Python Memory Manager (PMM), which is responsible for allocating and deallocating memory as needed. Garbage collection is a key component of the PMM, tasked with reclaiming memory occupied by objects that are no longer referenced by the program.
By automatically identifying and removing unreachable objects, garbage collection helps prevent memory leaks and ensures efficient memory usage in Python programs.
