Deleting a class object in java

Question

I have a class named Point as below:

public class Point {
    public int x;
    public int y;

    public Point(int X, int Y){
        x = X;
        y = Y;
    }

    public double Distance(Point p){
        return sqrt(((this.x - p.x) * (this.x - p.x)) + ((this.y - p.y) * (this.y - p.y)));
    }

    protected void finalize()
    {
        System.out.println( "One point has been destroyed.");
    } 
}

I have an object from this class named p as below:

Point p = new Point(50,50);

I want to delete this object, I searched how to do it, the only solution I found was:

p = null;

But the finalize method of Point didn't work after I did it. What can I do?

Answer 1

An object CAN BE DESTROYED when threre are no remaining pointer to this object.

It is removed by the garbage collector at random time. You can call System.gc() but it is not recommended. The system should be the one to be able to manage the memory.

Answer 2

After you do p = null; the last reference of your point is deleted and the garbage collector collects the instance now because there is no reference to this instance. If you call System.gc(); the garbage collector will recycle unused objects and invoke the finalize methods of this objects.

    Point p = new Point(50,50);
    p = null;
    System.gc();

Output: One point has been destroyed.

Answer 3

Actually p = null will only make the Object lost reference in java heap. But, the Object P still active. If you use System.gc() you will be able to clean all active Objects include it's reference in java heap. So, i recommend using System.gc() after doing p = null

Answer 4

If there are no methods calling point and its not because of memory management issues you leave it to the garbage collector or call it explicitly. Otherwise mention why you want to delete it so that other ways are suggested.

Answer 5

You cannot delete object in java, thats the work of GC (Garbage Collector) , which finds and deletes unreferenced instance variables. What that means is variables that are no longer pointed or referenced to , which means they have now no way of being called over. Hence when you do this p = null; , you assign a null to the reference variable holding reference to Point object. Hence now Point object that was pointed by p is garbage collectible.

Also according to javadoc for finalize() method,

Called by the garbage collector on an object when garbage collection 
determines that there are no more references to the object. 
A subclass overrides the finalize method
to dispose of system resources or to perform other cleanup.

But there is no guarantee of calling of finalize() method, as GC is not guaranteed to run at a specific time (deterministic time).

Answer 6

GC reclaims object, when an object no longer referenced becomes claimable candidate. For basic app one cannot be sure if GC runs with in process lifetime. Thus here is a small example for testing theory:

public class Test {
    static class Sample {
        @Override
        protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
            System.out.print(this + " The END");    
        } 
    }
    public static void main(String...args) throws Exception {
        // Extra care 
        Runtime.getRuntime().runFinalization();
        Sample sample = new Sample(); sample = null; // Object no longer referenced
        System.gc(); // Ensures FULL GC before application exits
        Thread.sleep(1000); // Relax and see finalization out log
    }
}