object elligible for garbage collection

[Isabel Wanderley]

The question is : What is the earliest line after which the object created on //A is
eligible for garbage collection?
(Select one correct answer)
I thought was after line 3 but the answer is after line 2 anyone can explain me that ? Thanks!
<code>
public class Test059
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Byte b1 = new Byte("127"); //A
Byte b[] = new Byte[2];
b[1] = b1;
b1 = null; //1
b[1] = null; //2
System.out.println(b1); //3
System.out.println(b[1]); //4
}
}
</code>

[Ron Newman]

Can't be after line 3, since line 3 doesn't do anything that would cause an object to become unreachable.

[Isabel Wanderley]

hahahahahahaha
Sorry I just read the line worng.... Sorry!!!

[Anthony Villanueva]

Hi, can you use the square brackets instead of the pointy ones for your code tags?

[Matt Kidd]

For my own clarification, wouldn't the object declared in the //A line be ready for garbage collection after line //1 beginning with //2?

[Anthony Villanueva]

Originally posted by Matt Kidd:
For my own clarification, wouldn't the object declared in the //A line be ready for garbage collection after line //1 beginning with //2?

b[1] is still referring to the object ("127") so at that point in time, that object is still not eligible for garbage collection...

[Matt Kidd]

How? Doesn't [CODE]b1 = null;[/CODE} take the reference away from the Byte object?

[Valentin Crettaz]

Yes but b[1] is still referencing the Byte object even though b1 has no reference to it anymore.

[Matt Kidd]

*grumble, grumble, grumble*
ebil twick question...juuuust ebil.
(After I posted I looked at the code again and I got that feeling in my gut that was the case)

[Anthony Villanueva]

Search your feelings Matt... you know them to be true