The finalize() Method is Deprecated: Demystifying Java’s Garbage Collection

Introduction

🚨 Did you know that Java’s finalize() method has been deprecated since Java 9 and removed in Java 18? If you’re still relying on finalize() for resource clean-up, it’s time to rethink your approach.

This guide will explore: ✅ Why finalize() was deprecated and its problems.
✅ How Java’s Garbage Collector (GC) works.
✅ The right way to handle resource cleanup in modern Java.

The finalize() Method is Deprecated: Demystifying Java’s Garbage Collection

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1. What is the finalize() Method?

Before Java 9, the finalize() method was used to perform cleanup before an object was garbage collected:

@Override
protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
    System.out.println("Cleaning up before GC");
}