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How does Rust handle memory safety without a garbage collector?
Asked on Feb 17, 2026
Answer
Rust achieves memory safety without a garbage collector by using a system of ownership with rules that the compiler checks at compile time. This system ensures that all memory accesses are safe and that there are no data races, dangling pointers, or memory leaks.
Example Concept: Rust's ownership model is based on three main principles: each value in Rust has a single owner, ownership can be transferred (moved) but not duplicated, and when the owner goes out of scope, the value is automatically deallocated. Additionally, Rust uses borrowing and lifetimes to allow safe references to data without transferring ownership, ensuring that references do not outlive the data they point to.
Additional Comment:
- Rust's borrow checker enforces rules at compile time to prevent data races and ensure safe memory access.
- Ownership and borrowing allow Rust to manage memory without needing a garbage collector, leading to predictable performance.
- Rust's memory model is designed to provide both safety and concurrency without sacrificing performance.
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