Generational Garbage Collection

One of the factors that affect the performance of JavaScript and Ajax based application is on how the application handles its memory disposition. While other programming languages have to be concerned of memory handling as well, client side programming languages such as JavaScript has a good reason to be concerned.

Ajax and JavaScript based applications are concentrated on data manipulation. Memory can easily drain the application since they will be stored in the client side. Without proper memory handling, the application could just freeze. Developers have to find a way how to handle memory to ensure efficiency of their application.

A well known practice many developers observe in dealing with the problem of memory is garbage collection. Although the name sounds like a regular task at home, it has another definition in terms of applications development. In gist, garbage collection is a form or a way of handling memory wherein a code is developed to collect the unused data. This is an automated function wherein a “collector” is launched to prevent memory from being used in the application.

Advantages of Garbage Collection

When garbage collection is properly launched in an Ajax or JavaScript application, the following advantage could be enjoyed:

• Free up resources in the application – through efficient garbage collection, developers would be able to maintain the footprint of the application.

• Identify objects no longer needed – when small applications retain too many objects without shedding the unnecessary, developers would have a hard time maintaining the application. Garbage collection eases the application by removing objects in an instant.

• Preventing memory leaks – garbage collection can handle memory leaks because it prevents anything from getting out.

• Increasing security – this is just a small after effect of the application but still a significant feature that developers will enjoy in their applications.

Vs. Manual Collection

Garbage collection is an automated function that could be implemented by developers. While garbage collection has been used by many developers since it was first used since late 50s (in early computers), some developers use manual memory collection instead of the fully functional automated collection. The reason for this is that developers opt to make this simple.

Installing garbage collection in small Ajax and JavaScript based application will just require more resources than the application itself. Garbage collection in JavaScript is basically geared towards large JavaScript and Ajax based application.

Using V8 JavaScript Engine

This powerful feature that could be used by JavaScript and Ajax based application is found in the latest JavaScript engine. V8 JavaScript Engine comes with generational garbage collection which is basically an automated garbage collection that fully adapts to developer’s application. It’s a very smart tool from JavaScript as it fosters scalability in the application.

With the help of generational garbage collection, developers will be able to shed objects and memory that is no longer useful. As it is geared towards scalability, you should expect that the function will not just shed small amounts of objects and memory but would be massive to ensure that the application will not slow down.