Why is `finalize()` Considered Unreliable for Resource Cleanup in Java?

Reliability of Using finalize() for Resource Cleanup

Question: Contrary to its intended use, why has finalize() proven unreliable for resource cleanup in practice?

Answer: Principally, finalize() is unreliable because:

• Java's Memory Model: The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) does not guarantee the invocation order or timing of finalize(). As a result, resources may not be released promptly, leading to potential data corruption or resource leaks.

Despite its limitations, finalize() can still serve specific use cases in non-critical situations:

• Emergency Fallback: It can act as a safety mechanism to clean up external resources (e.g., sockets, files) in case the programmer forgets to call the close() method explicitly.
• Resource Leak Detection: finalize() can be leveraged to log or trigger an alert when unclosed resources are detected, facilitating debugging.
• Long-Running Applications: In scenarios where resources may persist for extended periods and termination is not imminent, finalize() can serve as an additional safety measure to free them eventually.

However, as a best practice, developers should prioritize using try-with-resources blocks, which provide a more reliable and predictable approach to resource management, over relying on finalize().

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