Java Interview Question: finalize() method

Question

I was given the following phrase in an interview:

The invocation of an Object's finalize() method is the last thing that happens before an object is garbaged collected.

I had to answer by:

• True
• False

I've chosen True but it was wrong. Can you please explain me why ?

Answer 1

The order is different:

1. First the object is collected.
2. Then the object is finalized.

See http://java.dzone.com/articles/ocajp-7-object-lifecycle-java

Object lifecycle:

1. Created
2. In use (strongly reachable)
3. Invisible
4. Unreachable
5. Collected
6. Finalized
7. Deallocated