How is automatic memory cleanup implemented in Java?

In Java, automatic garbage collection is performed by the Garbage Collector (GC). It monitors objects in the heap and frees memory occupied by objects that are no longer referenced by active code.

Main principles of GC operation:

• Objects with no references are considered unreachable and are eligible for removal.
• GC runs periodically in the background to free up memory.
• There are different garbage collection algorithms (mark-and-sweep, copying, generational GC, etc.), optimized for various scenarios.

Example: if an object is created and no longer used (no references to it), GC will automatically free its memory without the need for explicit deletion.

This allows developers to avoid manual memory management, reducing the likelihood of leaks and errors.