Heap Dumping
Heap dumping is a diagnostic technique in software development that captures a snapshot of the Java heap memory at a specific point in time, typically in a binary format like HPROF. It records all objects, their classes, and references in memory, allowing developers to analyze memory usage, identify memory leaks, and optimize performance. This tool is commonly used with Java Virtual Machine (JVM) applications but has equivalents in other languages like .NET and Python.
Developers should use heap dumping when debugging memory-related issues such as OutOfMemoryError, high memory consumption, or suspected memory leaks in production or testing environments. It is essential for performance tuning in large-scale applications, as it provides detailed insights into object allocations and garbage collection behavior, helping to reduce resource usage and improve application stability.