Memory leaks and unpredictability caused by finalize() methods

I have a Java class that overrides finalize() for cleanup. Under high object allocation rates, the JVM becomes slow or crashes with OutOfMemoryError. Why is this happening and how should I fix it?

Overriding finalize() can cause objects to linger longer than expected because the GC must enqueue and finalize them before actual reclamation. If the finalizer execution is slow, objects backlog, and memory grows until exhaustion ([turn0search0]turn0search7turn0search5). Java deprecated finalize() post-Java 9 and recommends using alternatives like AutoCloseable, Cleaner, or explicit resource management ([turn0search5]). 🛠️ How to Fix • Remove all usage of finalize() from your classes. • Implement AutoCloseable and use try-with-resources for deterministic cleanup. • If non-deterministic cleanup is needed, use java.lang.ref.Cleaner, but never rely on it for critical cleanup ([turn0reddit17]). • For resource management (sockets, files, buffers), close explicitly and promptly.