Package java.lang.ref

Provides reference-object classes, which support a limited degree of interaction with the garbage collector.

See: Description

Class	Description
PhantomReference<T>	Phantom reference objects, which are enqueued after the collector determines that their referents may otherwise be reclaimed.
Reference<T>	Abstract base class for reference objects.
ReferenceQueue<T>	Reference queues, to which registered reference objects are appended by the garbage collector after the appropriate reachability changes are detected.
SoftReference<T>	Soft reference objects, which are cleared at the discretion of the garbage collector in response to memory demand.
WeakReference<T>	Weak reference objects, which do not prevent their referents from being made finalizable, finalized, and then reclaimed.

Package java.lang.ref Description

Provides reference-object classes, which support a limited degree of interaction with the garbage collector. A program may use a reference object to maintain a reference to some other object in such a way that the latter object may still be reclaimed by the collector. A program may also arrange to be notified some time after the collector has determined that the reachability of a given object has changed.

Since:

1.2