Garbage collection?

[srikanth reddy]

 Problem        
After which line will the object created at line XXX be eligible for garbage collection?
public Object getObject(Object a) //0
{
Object b = new Object();  //XXX
Object c, d = new Object(); //1
c = b; //2
b = a = null; //3
return c; //4
}
  Options        
    Select 1 correct option. 
  1)//2 
  2)//3 
  3)//4 
  4)Never in this method. 
  5)Can't say. 
 

here i thought the answer to be 2..

but its not ...can anyone explain me when does the object gets garbage collected exactly??


srikanth

[Srinivasa Raghavan]

Never in that method . Answer 'c' because , eventhough 'b' is set to null
the reference variable c points to this object and it is returned to the calling place.
[ September 22, 2005: Message edited by: Srinivasa Raghavan ]

[Lalitha Gottumukkula]

Because it is having direct reference (c), it is never garbage collected.

[srikanth reddy]

yes srinivas,

got it ..thanks for your help