Does it help GC to null local variables in Java

Question

I was \'forced\' to add myLocalVar = null; statement into finally clause just before leaving method. Reason is to help GC. I was told I will get SMS\'s during n

Answer 1

Not only is nulling a local variable like that meaningless in terms of GC, it may cause unnecessary loading of the variable into a register in order to null it out, which makes the situation worse. Imagine if there is 1000 lines of code between the last read or write to myLocalVar, and then you reference it just to null out the reference. The value is long gone from the register, but you have to load it back in to memory to work with it.