In Python, garbage collection is a process that automatically handles memory management by reclaiming memory occupied by objects that are no longer in use, helping prevent memory leaks and optimize performance. Python’s garbage collector primarily uses reference counting to track the number of references to each object. When an object’s reference count drops to zero (meaning there are no references pointing to it), Python immediately reclaims that memory. Additionally, Python has a cyclic garbage collector to detect and clean up circular references—situations where two or more objects reference each other but are no longer accessible from the rest of the program. This cyclic collector organizes objects into generations based on their lifespan and periodically checks older objects for cycles, as they are more likely to be candidates for garbage collection. Developers can control the garbage collector to some extent by using the gc module, which allows manual collection, adjusting thresholds, or even disabling the collector if they prefer to manage memory manually. Understanding garbage collection helps developers write more efficient code, especially in applications with high memory demands.
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