How has ReferenceQueue changed in recent Java versions?

The ReferenceQueue has seen some improvements and changes in its usage and behavior in the recent versions of Java. Initially, ReferenceQueue was introduced to work with reference types like SoftReference, WeakReference, and PhantomReference. Recent Java versions have focused on enhancing the performance and usability of these references, particularly in garbage collection. One key change is the introduction of better handling and processing of the references that are enqueued, which aids in optimizing memory management. This facilitates better resource cleanup, especially when dealing with memory-sensitive applications.

// Example of using ReferenceQueue with WeakReference in Java

import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
import java.lang.ref.ReferenceQueue;

public class WeakReferenceExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ReferenceQueue referenceQueue = new ReferenceQueue<>();
        WeakReference weakRef = new WeakReference<>(new String("Hello, World!"), referenceQueue);

        System.out.println("Weak Reference: " + weakRef.get());
        System.gc(); // Suggest to run garbage collection

        // Check if the weak reference has been cleared
        if (weakRef.get() == null) {
            System.out.println("The weak reference has been cleared");
        }
    }
}