GC Algorithms

Serial, Parallel, CMS, G1, ZGC

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GC Algorithms

Different GC algorithms optimize for throughput, latency, or memory footprint.

  • Serial GC: Single-threaded, simple
  • Parallel GC: Throughput-oriented
  • CMS: Low pause times (deprecated)
  • G1: Region-based, default in Java 9+
  • ZGC: Ultra-low latency

Code Examples

Selecting GC algorithms

bash
1
2-XX:+UseG1GC
3-XX:+UseZGC
4          

Use Cases

  • High-throughput systems
  • Low-latency applications

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using wrong GC for workload
  • Ignoring GC logs