AS3 - Objects and Performance

2008-07-22

If you create an object and do not assign it to a variable (see the code below), does it stay in the memory and does it slow down performance? If it does, is there any way to remove it from there?

Code:

new SampleClass();

Any help would be fantastic.

Isocase · 2008-07-22 #2

By not assigning a variable to it you have no way of removing it from memory. It would definitely be wise to assign a variable which will allow you to target the object and remove from memory.

M40 · 2008-07-22 #3

Thanks Isocase,

Here's another thought. Wouldn't garbage collector delete an object that is not assigned to a variable?

Nutrox · 2008-07-22 #4

It depends what you are doing inside that class. It will stay in memory if it is being referenced by any other objects or referenced by itself (i.e. by using a static property), or if any of it's methods have been registered as strong event listeners. If an object isn't referenced then it should eventually be cleared from memory.

M40 · 2008-07-23 #5

Thanks Nutrox, very useful post as always!

A few more questions if I may.
1. If an object it not assigned to a variable, can it be referenced by another object?
2. Is there any way I can check if an object that is not assigned to a variable in memory?
3. How long an Event object stay in memory? Here's an example. If you dispatch an event the following way - dispatchEvent(new Event()), how long does that Event object exist in memory?

Thank you!

Nutrox · 2008-07-23 #6

1. The short answer is no. If you lose all references to an object then it is lost, there would be no way of referencing that object again. The Array in the following example could never be referenced again:

Code:

new Array();

2. You can use the Profiler in Flex Builder 3 for that, but it can't be done in Flash or directly with AS3 as far as I know.

3. It is difficult to answer that one, not many Adobe peeps can answer it either. Flash runs a garbage collection when it thinks it needs to, normally when memory usage fluctuates quite a bit, but it isn't predictable or consistent.

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	Ultrashock Forums > Flash > ActionScript • AS3 - Objects and Performance


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	Isocase	2008-07-22 #2
	By not assigning a variable to it you have no way of removing it from memory. It would definitely be wise to assign a variable which will allow you to target the object and remove from memory.

	M40	2008-07-22 #3
	Thanks Isocase, Here's another thought. Wouldn't garbage collector delete an object that is not assigned to a variable?

	Nutrox 17 Creative Assets	2008-07-22 #4
	It depends what you are doing inside that class. It will stay in memory if it is being referenced by any other objects or referenced by itself (i.e. by using a static property), or if any of it's methods have been registered as strong event listeners. If an object isn't referenced then it should eventually be cleared from memory.

	M40	2008-07-23 #5
	Last edited by M40 : 2008-07-23 at 13:36. Thanks Nutrox, very useful post as always! A few more questions if I may. 1. If an object it not assigned to a variable, can it be referenced by another object? 2. Is there any way I can check if an object that is not assigned to a variable in memory? 3. How long an Event object stay in memory? Here's an example. If you dispatch an event the following way - dispatchEvent(new Event()), how long does that Event object exist in memory? Thank you!

	Nutrox 17 Creative Assets	2008-07-23 #6
	1. The short answer is no. If you lose all references to an object then it is lost, there would be no way of referencing that object again. The Array in the following example could never be referenced again: Code: new Array(); 2. You can use the Profiler in Flex Builder 3 for that, but it can't be done in Flash or directly with AS3 as far as I know. 3. It is difficult to answer that one, not many Adobe peeps can answer it either. Flash runs a garbage collection when it thinks it needs to, normally when memory usage fluctuates quite a bit, but it isn't predictable or consistent.