Eligible for garbage collection

[Roger Zhao]

Hi, all:
Given:
12. void start() {
13. A a = new A();
14. B b = new B();
15. a.s(b);
16. b = null;
17. a = null;
18. System.out.println(�start completed�);
19. }
When is the B object, created in line 14, eligible for garbage collection?
A. After line 16.
B. After line 17.
C. After line 18 (when the methods ends).
D. There is no way to be absolutely certain.
E. The object is NOT eligible for garbage collection.
Answer: C
Why not B? We don't know what happened in method s(b). After Line 17, a is eligible for GC, all varibles used in a are all eligible for GC. Right? Plz let me know more about it.

Thanks a lot,
Roger

[Bert Bates]

Roger -
I think a different answer is correct... Why did you rule out the other answers?
- Bert

[Andres Gonzalez]

I don't think C is correct. I think is D.
15. a.s(b);
we cannot say what's gonna happen with b in this line.
[ August 29, 2003: Message edited by: Andres Gonzalez ]

[Reddy Yeluru]

The most correct answer would be D, as we do not have any idea on methos s(b).