Pointers in Java & memory

Question

Suppose I define a new class, say PhoneBook. I do the following:

Phonebook x = new Phonebook()
Phonebook x1=x
Phonebook x2=x
...
Phonebook x99 =x

then this won't consume much memory will it since all the 100 variables are pointing to the same phonebook?

Thanks

Of course, it also means that you have only on Phonebook, and any modifications made to it will be "seen" through any of the pointers. Folks often make the mistake of filling an array or List with pointers to the same object, expecting (erroneously) that the object will be duplicated for each array entry. — Hot Licks
– Hot Licks, Commented Jan 9, 2014 at 3:07

Tim B · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-09 02:20:15Z

5

Correct. Each reference will consume a small amount of memory (usually 4 or 8 bytes on 32 or 64 bit systems) and that's it.

answered Jan 9, 2014 at 2:20

Tim B

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Evgeniy Dorofeev · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-09 03:01:14Z

0

If those are local variables they do not consume any memory on the heap because they are on stack. The size of Java pointer is JVM implementation specific usually it is 32 bit.

answered Jan 9, 2014 at 3:01

Evgeniy Dorofeev

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Rugal · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-09 02:49:53Z

-1

Yes indeed you can also come to my blog Reference

What really consume memory is the first time you new a phoneBook, and the rest of Reference Phonebook consume just about 4byte each.

answered Jan 9, 2014 at 2:49

Rugal

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4 Comments

Rugal Over a year ago

is there any problem in my answer?

Tim B Over a year ago

It's probably the fact that a) it is mostly just a link to an off-site reference that's frowned upon in the guidelines (although you do have a summary answer as well so it's not too bad in this case.) and b) in 64 bit it will consume 8 bytes each

Rugal Over a year ago

@TimB Got that, which really guide my future action, I will follow SOF's guideline. THX for the explaination!

Tim B Over a year ago

stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-answer - specifically "Provide context for links Links to external resources are encouraged, but please add context around the link so your fellow users will have some idea what it is and why it’s there. Always quote the most relevant part of an important link, in case the target site is unreachable or goes permanently offline."

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