reference counting

Also found in: Wikipedia

0.01 sec.

(programming)

reference counting - A garbage collection technique where each memory cell contains a count of the number of other cells which point to it. If this count reaches zero the cell is freed and its pointers to other cells are followed to decrement their counts, and so on recursively.

This technique cannot cope with circular data structures. Cells in such structures refer (indirectly) to themselves and so will never have a zero reference count. This means they would never be reclaimed, even when there are no references from outside the structure.

Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			A simple reference counting garbage collection scheme can be used to ensure that resources are freed at the correct time. Optimising Rete for low-memory, multi-agent systems by Madden, Neil / Software World The IUnknown interface consists of three methods: AddRef () and Release (), which implement reference counting and control the lifetime of interfaces; and QueryInterface, which by specifying an IID allows a carer to retrieve references to the different interfaces the component implements. A new aspect to programming? by Sharwood, Simon / Database and Network Journal Template-based swizzler classes which reduce the need for casting and ease object reference counting issues. NeoLogic Augments Capabilities and Accessibility of Object Database ... by Business Wire			reeve Reeve's Tale, The Reeve, Clara Reeve, Tapping Reeves County Reeves, Ruth reevesite Reexcavation Reexport REF REF-ARF refactor refactoring Refah Party REFAL refarming refectory refer reference reference acoustic pressure reference address reference angle reference block Reference Book reference burst reference counting reference craft reference design reference dimension reference dipole reference direction Reference Electrode Reference Ellipsoid reference frame reference frequency Reference Fuel Reference Grid reference level reference line reference listing Reference Literature reference locality reference lot reference mark reference material reference monitor reference noise reference plane Reference Point reference range reference record			Reference Architecture Working Group Reference Archive Services Network Reference Assembly Sequence Reference Association of South Suburban Libraries Reference Ballistic Imaging Database Reference Base Units REference BATCS Report Reference Bible reference block reference book reference book reference book Reference books Reference books Reference books reference box Reference Broadcast Synchronization reference burst Reference Change Value Reference Class Reference Climate Station Network Reference Concentration Reference Conceptual Design Reference Conceptual Design Report Reference Conduit Access Offer Reference Configuration Reference Constant Reference count reference counting reference craft Reference Daily Intake Reference Data Reference Data and Literature Reference Data Base Reference Data Group Reference Data Management Reference Data Model Reference Data Set Reference Data Subject Group Reference Data User Group Reference Database Reference Date reference datum Reference Datum Height Reference design Reference Design Kit Reference Designation Reference Designation Code Reference Designation Overflow Code Reference Designation System for Power Plants reference dimension reference dipole reference direction

Encyclopedia

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.