In the realm of Java development, garbage collection (GC) is a crucial process for memory management, designed to automatically reclaim memory that is no longer in use, thereby mitigating risks like memory leaks and dangling pointers associated with manual memory management in languages such as C and C++. Java introduced GC with the managed runtime to enhance developer productivity, though it involves trade-offs like increased runtime overhead and potential non-deterministic pauses, which can be problematic for latency-sensitive applications. Various GC algorithms in OpenJDK, including Serial, Parallel, G1, Shenandoah, and ZGC, cater to different application needs by balancing throughput and latency. Serial GC is suited for environments with limited CPU and memory resources, while Parallel GC maximizes throughput using multiple threads. G1 GC provides a balanced approach with predictable pause times, Shenandoah GC aims for consistent low-latency by operating concurrently with application threads, and ZGC minimizes pause times with a generational mode for enhanced performance. The choice of GC should align with the application's requirements, whether prioritizing throughput in batch processing tasks or low latency in real-time systems, and tools like Datadog can assist in monitoring GC performance effectively.