Why Java does not have a Destructor?

Last Updated on December 18, 2023 by Ankit Kochar

Java, known for its robustness and versatility, is a widely used programming language in the realm of software development. However, one notable feature absent in Java is the presence of a destructor, unlike some other programming languages like C++. This absence often raises questions and curiosity among developers about why Java doesn’t incorporate a destructor and how it manages memory and resource cleanup. Understanding the reasons behind this absence is crucial to grasp the design principles and memory management strategies employed by Java.

What is a Destructor?

The object is initialized with the help of the constructor as the constructor initializes the memory and all the resources to the object but when the work of the object has been done we have to delete or unassing all the space and memory of that object otherwise it will create a problem such as memory overflow, etc. To resolve this problem we use a destructor. But in java, there is no destructor instead of the java destructor we have a garbage collector which does the exact same work as the java destructor and we do not even have to initialize or explicitly call the garbage collector. It will prevent all memory leaks as it does not run out of memory.

Why Java does not have a Destructor?

As explained above that there is no java destructor instead the garbage collector is responsible for freeing up memory. It checks all the objects periodically and searches for the objects that are no longer in use and frees the memory they are using because of this there is no need for a java destructor instead this mechanism in java is called finalization.

Advantages of Destructor

Some of the advantages of java destructor are given below:

• Finalizations will release any resources that are used by the objects that are no longer in use.
• It will take care of the cases when the exception is thrown.
• It will automatically clean the resources there is no need to explicitly call it.
• It will handle all the errors that occurred during cleanup.
• It is compatible with all the classes in java.

Working of Java Destructor

Whenever an object is created it occupies some space in the heap. Threads use these objects. If the threads do not require some of the objects then they are eligible for garbage collection. After the memory is freed now the memory captured or used by that object is now free and available to be used by new objects that are being created. The garbage collector will destroy the object and the JRE will call the finalize the method to close the connections like network and database connection.

Till now we have understood that the garbage collector and destructor in java are the same but there is a slight difference between the two in that the destructor notifies whenever it is deleting an object whereas the garbage collector in java deletes the object automatically. Both of them have some benefits and drawbacks but the main reason for using both of them is to get free memory.

What is Finalization in Java?

It is a mechanism that is used in java to clear up an object before it is even garbage collected. When the object is not in use then the garbage collector checks the object if it has finalize method associated with it then it calls the finalize method before freeing up the memory. The only purpose of the finalize method is to call release any resource object is holding before cleaning the object.

How Finalization Works in Java?

For programmers, it can be quite difficult to fully understand garbage collection and implement it. To solve this problem there is an alternate method that java provides which is finalize method(). It works the same as the way the destructor works.

Syntax of finalize in Java

protected void finalize throws Throwable()  
{  // the resources that need to be free
}  

It offers additional protection but is not a destructor. Before shutting down the application, it makes sure that exterior resources have been used, such as closing the file. It can be called directly by using the method or by using the System method. runFinalizersOnExit(true).

Methods of finalize()
Some of the methods of the finalize methods are given below.

• It is predefined in the java.lang.package and it is a protected method of the object class.
• We can call it only once.
• If we want to override the method then we need to explicitly call the finalize () method.
• The garbage collector executes the gc() method of the JVM. It is called when the heap memory is full and we need more memory for the new objects that are coming.
• It will ignore all the exceptions other than the unchecked exceptions.

Example of Destructor

In this section, we will discuss the example of a destructor with code and its implementation.

Code Implementation

 class ExampleDestructor  
{  
public static void main(String[] args)  
{  
ExampleDestructor de = new ExampleDestructor ();  
de.finalize();  
de = null;  
System.gc();  
System.out.println("It is inside the main() method");  
}  
protected void finalize()  
{  
System.out.println("The garbage collector destroyed the object");  
}  
}   

Output

The garbage collector destroyed the object
It is inside the main() method
The garbage collector destroyed the object

Explanation of the above example
In the above example we have created a class with name ExampleDestructor and after that, we have created the object of the class and when the object work is complete we are destroying the object using finalize method and garbage collection methods.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the absence of a destructor in Java is a deliberate design choice rather than an oversight. Java’s automatic garbage collection mechanism, combined with its use of finalizers and the finalize() method, ensures efficient memory management and resource cleanup without the need for explicit destructors. The language’s emphasis on simplicity, portability, and robustness led to the adoption of garbage collection as the primary method for memory deallocation, promoting a more secure and reliable programming environment.

While Java developers don’t explicitly write destructors, understanding Java’s memory management principles, including garbage collection and finalization, is essential for writing efficient and optimized code. Adhering to best practices for resource management and utilizing tools provided by Java, developers can create reliable and high-performance applications without worrying about manual memory deallocation.

Frequently Asked Questions on Java Doesn’t have a Destructor

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about java destructor.

1. Why doesn’t Java have destructors?
Java aims for simplicity, portability, and safety. By omitting destructors, Java eliminates potential issues like memory leaks and dangling references that can arise due to improper manual memory management. Instead, it relies on automatic garbage collection to manage memory, making the language more robust and less error-prone.

2. How does Java manage memory without destructors?
Java employs automatic garbage collection, where a separate thread identifies and reclaims memory that is no longer in use. The garbage collector frees memory occupied by objects that have no live references, thereby handling memory deallocation without explicit destructor calls.

3. What is the role of the finalize() method in Java?
The finalize() method in Java is invoked by the garbage collector before reclaiming an object’s memory. It allows an object to perform cleanup operations before being garbage collected. However, its usage is discouraged due to uncertainties in its execution timing and efficiency, as it’s not guaranteed when or if the finalize() method will be called.

4. Are there alternatives to destructors in Java?
While Java lacks traditional destructors, developers can employ the try-with-resources statement or implement the AutoCloseable interface to manage resources like files, database connections, or network sockets. These mechanisms ensure proper resource cleanup using close() methods, which get automatically invoked when leaving the scope of the resource.

5. Can you resurrect an object during the finalization process?
Yes, you can resurrect an object during the finalization process by calling the object’s finalize() method from within the finalize() method.