Java's garbage collection is not new to Java 9, it has existed since the initial release of Java. Java has long had a sophisticated garbage collection system that is automatic and runs in the background. By running in the background, we are referring to garbage collection processes running during idle times.
Idle times refer to the time between input/output, such as between keyboard input, mouse clicks, and output generation.
This automatic garbage collection has been one of the key factors in developers selecting Java for their programming solutions. Other programming languages, such as C# and Objective-C, have implemented garbage collection following the success of the Java platform.
Let's next take a look at the following listed concepts before we look at the changes to garbage collection in the current Java platform:
- Visualizing garbage collection
- Garbage collection upgrades in Java 8
- Case study—games written with Java