Finalizer methods in Java

Finalizer methods are almost the opposite of constructor methods. A constructor method is used to initialize an object, while finalizer methods are called just before the object is garbage-collected and its memory reclaimed. The syntax of the finalizer method is simply finalize(). The Object class defines a default finalizer method. To create a finalizer method, override the finalize() method using the following signature:

protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
  super.finalize();
}

The body of finalize() method can include several objects including super.finalize(). This object allows the parent class to finalize an object, if necessary. The finalize() method can be called at any time; however, calling finalize() does not trigger an object to be garbage-collected. Only removing all references to an object will cause it to be marked for deleting.

Finalizer methods are best used for optimizing the removal of an object (for example, by removing references to other objects) by releasing external resources that have been acquired (for example, external files), or for other behaviors that may make it easier for that object to be removed .