Garbage Collection

[Moon Winter]

Consider the following question:

void method X() {
String r = new String("abc");
String s = new String("abc");
r = r+1; //1
r = null; //2
s = s + r; //3
} //4
1) Before statement labeled 1
2) Before statement labeled 2
3) Before statement labeled 3
4) Before statement labeled 4
5) Never.
The answer given is 4), while I think it should be 2). The reason is that at line 1), the object r is not object r before (a new String r has been assigned to r). That means old object r is available for GC. what do you guys think?
Thanks

[Desai Sandeep]

Hi,
I think the answer should be 2) - Before statement labeled 2.
Initially r is holding the object reference of new String("abc").At line 1),a new object abc1 is created.This leaves object abc earlier referenced by r unreferenced, and therefore making it eligible for Garbage Collection.
Hope this helps,
Sandeep
SCJP2, OCSD(Oracle JDeveloper), OCED(Oracle Internet Platform)