What are the various types of references in Java ?

In Java the various types of references can be classified as follows

• Strong Reference - The default reference, The garbage collector would not remove this strong reference


• Soft Reference - The Java Garbage Collector would remove the soft reference when it is low for memory. These type of references are ideal for implementing your own cache.


• Weak Reference - Weak references are the type of references which would be removed in the next cycle of Garbage Collection


• Phantom References - Here the memory is never reclaimed though the Object would be finalized.