Finalization is a process in garbage collection that allows objects to perform cleanup operations before they are destroyed. It is typically used in object-oriented programming languages where objects may hold resources that need to be explicitly released, such as file handles, database connections, or network sockets.

When an object is no longer in use and is ready to be destroyed, the garbage collector first checks to see if the object has a finalizer. If it does, the garbage collector schedules the finalizer to be run at a later time, typically after the object has been marked as eligible for garbage collection.

During finalization, the object’s finalizer method is called, allowing it to perform any necessary cleanup operations. This might include releasing resources, closing files or connections, or performing any other actions that need to be taken before the object is destroyed.

It’s important to note that finalization can be resource-intensive and may impact performance, so it should be used sparingly and only when necessary. Additionally, the order in which finalizers are run is not guaranteed, which can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior or resource leaks.

As an alternative to finalization, many modern programming languages provide other mechanisms for resource management, such as automatic reference counting or garbage collectors that support deterministic destruction. These mechanisms can help to ensure that resources are released in a timely and predictable manner, without the need for finalization.

The above components are common to most GC implementations, but there can be variations and optimizations based on the programming language, platform, and GC algorithm used.