Description: A memory leak in Java refers to a situation where an application consumes more memory than necessary, often due to unreferenced objects that remain in memory. This occurs when Java’s garbage collector, which is responsible for freeing memory occupied by objects that are no longer used, cannot identify and remove these unreferenced objects. Memory leaks can lead to increased memory usage, resulting in degraded application performance and even crashes if available memory runs out. Memory leaks are particularly problematic in long-running applications, such as server applications or desktop software that remain active for extended periods. Identifying and fixing memory leaks is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and stability of Java applications. Tools like VisualVM and Eclipse Memory Analyzer are commonly used to detect and analyze these leaks, allowing developers to optimize memory usage and improve the overall performance of their applications.
