What is a reference variable in Java?

What is a reference variable in Java?

Java's reference variable is actually a pointer, which points to an object instance in the heap memory. It is equivalent to giving a name to an array or object, and then you can use the stack in the program. A reference variable to access an array or object in the heap.

#What is the heap and what is the stack?

Storage area	Storage content	Advantages	Disadvantages	Recycling
Stack	Basic type variables and object reference variables	The access speed is faster than the heap, second only to Registers and stack data can be shared	The size and lifetime of the data stored in the stack must be determined and lack flexibility. The stack mainly stores some basic types of variables	When the scope of the variable is exceeded, Java will automatically release the variable, and the memory space can be immediately used for other purposes
Heap	Objects and arrays created by instructions such as new	can dynamically allocate memory size, and the lifetime does not need to be told to the compiler in advance	Because it needs to be run at runtime Dynamically allocates memory, and the access speed is slow	The automatic garbage collector of the Java virtual machine recycles data that is no longer used

Storage characteristics of the stack Determines the type of data stored in it.

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