Epoch-Based Reclamation
A memory-reclamation technique that delays freeing retired objects until all readers from an earlier execution epoch have completed.
Concurrency Context
With epoch-based reclamation, participating threads publish the epoch in which they may still reference shared objects. Retired objects are reclaimed only after readers from older epochs can no longer hold those references. Compared with hazard pointers, the hot path can require less per-object metadata.
Correctness and Progress Boundary
A thread that does not reach a quiescent state can delay reclamation for the entire system and allow retired-object lists to grow. The method therefore couples memory usage to progress in the reclamation protocol.
Related Concurrency Concepts
- Hazard Pointer
- Read-Copy-Update
- Lock-Free
- Grace Period