question on GC frm go4java mock test

After which line the object initially refered by str is eligible for garbage collection?Select one correct answer.

1 class Garbage
2 {
3 public static void main(String arg[])
4 {
5 String str=new String("Hello");
6 String str1=str;
7 str=new String("Hi");
8 str1=new String("Hello Again");
9 return;
10 }
11 }

My answer for this is "After line no. 8 ". Is this correct ?? If not please say what the correct answer is and the explanation.

I was searching thru the post to see if this question was already asked, but couldn't find one. In the process of searching found some articles on String and it is different than other object with respect to GC, can anyone explain it again..

Thanks,
JP

I too think the same way you have thought !!!

Cheers,

-Biswa

Hi,

You are right...

At line 6 ///there are two references for that object...

//line 7 only reference remains that of str1

//after line 8 ..even this points to another location...

So no more references exists for the object and eligible for GC..

I go for 8.

I think that After line 7 the initially referred object by str is eligible for GC. I am not sure.

All of you were said it is after 8.
Please explain.

Sampath

From the above post..

At line 6 ///there are two references for that object...

str and str1 are pointing to the same object So 2 references remain

//line 7 only reference remains that of str1

Here str is now pointing to a different and new String object and
str1 is still pointing to the old object.. So only 1 reference remains

//after line 8 ..even this points to another location.

Here str1 is pointing to a new string object...and the old object now has no reference..So 0 reference...

Hope you get it now...