garbage collection
(programming) An automatic mechanism that frees up resources (such as allocated memory) that are no longer in use.
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(programming) An automatic mechanism that frees up resources (such as allocated memory) that are no longer in use.
Generational garbage collection has proved to be a highly effective organisation, offering significant performance improvements for a wide range of applications.
“Hooray! It is payday. I also had a bill for council rates... Hooray! $700 ish to pay for poorly filled potholes and inconsistent garbage collection!”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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(North America) A service, generally run by local government, for transporting household garbage to the appropriate facility.
Java uses a technique known as garbage collection to remove objects that are no longer needed. The garbage collector is Java's grim reaper.
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- garbage collector86%
(programming) An algorithm, procedure or thread dedicated to garbage collection: reclaiming resources which are no longer in use.
- garbage collector67%
(US, Canada) A worker who removes refuse, especially from properties.
- garbageware61%
(computing, slang, derogatory) Extremely poor software.
- garbage59%
Useless or disposable material; waste material of any kind.