Understanding memory leaks in Node.js apps

Memory leaks in Node.js applications occur when memory is allocated but not released, leading to potential performance degradation and crashes due to the finite heap size managed by the garbage collector (GC). Despite the GC's efforts to manage memory by identifying and freeing unused objects, leaks can still happen when long-lived objects are linked to short-lived ones, causing unexpected memory consumption. Common causes include global variable misuse, circular referencing, and unbound event listeners. To address these issues, developers can utilize tools such as Node-heapdump, v8.writeHeapSnapshot, Clinic.js, and Chrome DevTools for debugging and monitoring, along with practices like event delegation and managing local caches to optimize performance. Understanding memory management in Node.js and employing these tools and practices can significantly reduce the likelihood of memory leaks, ensuring applications run efficiently without unexpected slowdowns or crashes.