Thread Doubt

[Gitesh Ramchandani]

Assume that th is an instance holding a thread object. th.start() causes the thread to start running and eventually complete its execution. The object reference by th is not accessable any more and is garbage collected when the garbage collecter runs.

1. True
2. False

Ans: 2

Doubt: WHY? in this case there is no use of a dead thread and as mentioned "The object reference by th is not accessable any more", so why it will not be garbage collected?


pls help
regards,
gitesh

[Henry Wong]

Originally posted by Gitesh Ramchandani:

Doubt: WHY? in this case there is no use of a dead thread and as mentioned "The object reference by th is not accessable any more", so why it will not be garbage collected?

Cause and Effect.... Is the question saying that you deferenced the variable? Or is the question saying that the variable will be automatically dereferenced when the thread completes?

This is why it would help if you Quote Your Sources. It may provide more context.

Henry

[Gitesh Ramchandani]

source:

AngelFire/Abhilash Q-69

[Ajay Chandravadiya]

Answer is Simple. Because GC in NOT GUARANTEED. It might run but not sweep any eligible object. Hence, its falls to say any un-referenced object will ever be GCed ,when GC runs next time.
[ August 29, 2007: Message edited by: ajay futuro ]

[Gitesh Ramchandani]

Originally posted by ajay futuro:
Answer is Simple. Because GC in NOT GUARANTEED. It might run but not sweep any eligible object. Hence, its falls to say any un-referenced object will ever be GCed ,when GC runs next time.

[ August 29, 2007: Message edited by: ajay futuro ]

Ok, but if it would have asked, like..will the reference th be GC, then would the answer be true?

Gitesh

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

As per my understanding, once a thread completes its run() method, it moves to dead state. i.e it can not be thread of execution again. In trying to invoke start() method again on that reference, we will have an exception in place. But thread object itself is not nullified. The object is still on heap and has a valid reference.In fact, we can still invoke any other methods defined in our thread object except start(). Now since the object is having a reference, it is basically not eligible for GC. Correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks in advance.

[Anupam Sinha]

Originally posted by Chandra Kota:
Hello All,

As per my understanding, once a thread completes its run() method, it moves to dead state. i.e it can not be thread of execution again. In trying to invoke start() method again on that reference, we will have an exception in place. But thread object itself is not nullified. The object is still on heap and has a valid reference.In fact, we can still invoke any other methods defined in our thread object except start(). Now since the object is having a reference, it is basically not eligible for GC. Correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks in advance.

Perfect!

[Gitesh Ramchandani]

Thanks Chandra