Understanding Java's Reference classes: SoftReference, WeakReference, and PhantomReference

Question

Can someone explain the difference between the three Reference classes (or post a link to a nice explanation)? SoftReference > WeakReference >

Answer 1

It should also be mentioned, as stated on the comment by Truong Xuan Tinh, here: http://blog.yohanliyanage.com/2010/10/ktjs-3-soft-weak-phantom-references/

That JRockit JVM implements weak/soft/phantom references differently than Sun JVM.