Memory Management

Python’s del statement is a powerful yet often misunderstood tool for removing objects, variables, and elements from data structures. Unlike methods like pop() or remove(), del directly deletes references, aiding memory management by potentially triggering garbage collection when no references remain.[1][2][3] This guide dives deep into del, covering syntax, use cases, pitfalls, and best practices with practical examples. What is the del Statement? The del keyword deletes objects in Python—everything from simple variables to complex data structures and class definitions. It removes the reference to an object from the current namespace, not the object itself. If no other references exist, Python’s garbage collector may reclaim the memory.[1][3][7] ...

Python’s garbage collector (GC) automatically manages memory by reclaiming space from objects no longer in use, combining reference counting for immediate cleanup with a generational garbage collector to handle cyclic references efficiently.[1][2][6] This dual mechanism ensures reliable memory management without manual intervention, making Python suitable for large-scale applications. The Fundamentals: Reference Counting At its core, CPython—the standard Python implementation—uses reference counting. Every object maintains an internal count of references pointing to it.[1][5] ...

Introduction Memory-mapped files (mmap) let you treat file contents (or anonymous memory) as a region of your process’s virtual memory. Instead of calling read/write in loops, you map a file, then access it as if it were an in-memory buffer. The kernel transparently brings pages into RAM on demand and writes them back when needed. This can reduce system calls, enable zero-copy I/O, and open up powerful patterns like inter-process shared memory. ...