How Python Memory management works Part 2|Generational Garbage collection|Python Interview Questions

Generational garbage collection is a cycle detection based algorithm which is used by Python garbage collector in order to deal with 'Reference cycles', a situation which the reference counting algorithm can not resolve.

In the last video of this particular topic, we discussed about the Reference counting algorithm as a way to manage memory in Python. Now in this video, we are going to see the limitations of reference counting and learn how python uses the Generational garbage collection algorithm to tackle the reference cycle problem.

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Video links:
Python Interview questions series:

Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:02 - Video Outline
1:15 - Refresher on reference counting
2:23 - What is Circular reference/Reference cycles
6:09 - Generational Garbage collection Intuition
8:49 - Key points to keep in Mind
10:04 - What are generations
12:10 - What is Threshold
16:14 - Cycle detection algorithm overview
27:42 - Code examples for reference cycle and gc module

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[DivyaPrakash-mjvz]

Great information. One thing I would like to add here, in each of the generation GC performs 3 phases, a) marking, b) sweeping, c) collecting.

[valeeswarank]

Thanks for the crystal clear explanation