When and How is Python's `del` Method (Finalizer) Actually Called?

Understanding the del Method: How and When it's Called

The del method, also known as the "finalizer," is a unique feature in Python that is responsible for cleaning up the memory allocated for an object when it is no longer in use. Despite its name, the del method is not called explicitly by a user but rather by the garbage collector, which is a part of the Python runtime environment.

How the del Method is Used

Contrary to popular belief, del to As soon as the object is removed, it is not called as a normal reference. Rather, it is called only after all references to the object have been removed in a process called garbage collection. However, this is an implementation detail and may vary across implementations. The only requirement for garbage collection in Python is that it occurs after all references have been removed.

del

should be avoided for critical cleanup, there are valid uses. For example, if an object X references Y and also holds a copy of the Y reference in a global cache, it would be polite to do

del

X to delete the cache entry.manually call del

if you know that del provides the necessary cleanup, you can call it manually by calling it directly (x.__del__()). However, do this only when you are sure that the object will not be called twice.

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