Java memory management revolves around the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) automatically handling object allocation and deallocation. The JVM divides memory into key areas: the Heap (where all objects live), the Stack (holding primitives and method calls per thread), and Metaspace (for class metadata). The cornerstone is Garbage Collection (GC)—an automatic process that identifies and removes objects no longer reachable from your running code, freeing you from manual free() or delete() calls. While this prevents memory leaks and pointer errors, you can still cause issues by unintentionally holding object references (preventing GC) or creating excessive objects (triggering performance-sapping GC pauses). You can influence this process by choosing different GC algorithms (like G1 or ZGC) and tuning heap sizes, but the core rule is that the JVM controls the lifecycle of memory, leaving you to focus on writing clear, reference-aware code.