finalize() method in Java and how to override it

Last Updated : 07 Feb, 2020

The finalize() method of Object class is a method that the Garbage Collector always calls just before the deletion/destroying the object which is eligible for Garbage Collection, so as to perform clean-up activity. Clean-up activity means closing the resources associated with that object like Database Connection, Network Connection or we can say resource de-allocation. Remember it is not a reserved keyword. Once the finalize method completes immediately Garbage Collector destroy that object.

Syntax:

protected void finalize throws Throwable{}

Since Object class contains the finalize method hence finalize method is available for every java class since Object is the superclass of all java classes. Since it is available for every java class hence Garbage Collector can call the finalize method on any java object

Why finalize method is used()?
finalize() method releases system resources before the garbage collector runs for a specific object. JVM allows finalize() to be invoked only once per object.

How to override finalize() method?

Now, the finalize method which is present in the Object class, has an empty implementation, in our class clean-up activities are there, then we have to override this method to define our own clean-up activities.

In order to Override this method, we have to explicitly define and call finalize within our code.

// Java code to show the 
// overriding of finalize() method 
  
import java.lang.*; 
  
// Defining a class demo since every java class 
// is a subclass of predefined Object class 
// Therefore demo is a subclass of Object class 
public class demo { 
  
    protected void finalize() throws Throwable 
    { 
        try { 
  
            System.out.println("inside demo's finalize()"); 
        } 
        catch (Throwable e) { 
  
            throw e; 
        } 
        finally { 
  
            System.out.println("Calling finalize method"
                               + " of the Object class"); 
  
            // Calling finalize() of Object class 
            super.finalize(); 
        } 
    } 
  
    // Driver code 
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Throwable 
    { 
  
        // Creating demo's object 
        demo d = new demo(); 
  
        // Calling finalize of demo 
        d.finalize(); 
    } 
} 

Output:

inside demo's finalize()
Calling finalize method of the Object class

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