dotnet-gc-memory

Garbage collection and memory management for .NET applications. Covers GC modes (workstation vs server, concurrent vs non-concurrent), Large Object Heap (LOH) and Pinned Object Heap (POH), generational tuning (Gen0/1/2), memory pressure notifications, deep Span/Memory ownership patterns beyond basics, buffer pooling with ArrayPool and MemoryPool, weak references, finalizers vs IDisposable, and memory profiling with dotMemory and PerfView.

Scope

• GC modes (workstation vs server, concurrent vs non-concurrent)
• Large Object Heap (LOH) and Pinned Object Heap (POH)
• Generational tuning (Gen0/1/2) and memory pressure
• Deep Span/Memory ownership patterns
• Buffer pooling with ArrayPool and MemoryPool
• Memory profiling with dotMemory and PerfView

Out of scope

• Span/Memory syntax introduction and basic usage — see [skill:dotnet-performance-patterns]
• Microbenchmarking setup — see [skill:dotnet-benchmarkdotnet]
• CLI diagnostic tools (dotnet-counters, dotnet-trace, dotnet-dump) — see [skill:dotnet-profiling]
• Channel producer/consumer patterns — see [skill:dotnet-channels]

Cross-references: [skill:dotnet-performance-patterns] for Span/Memory basics and sealed devirtualization, [skill:dotnet-profiling] for runtime diagnostic tools (dotnet-counters, dotnet-trace, dotnet-dump), [skill:dotnet-channels] for backpressure patterns that interact with memory management, [skill:dotnet-file-io] for MemoryMappedFile usage and POH buffer patterns in file I/O.

GC Modes and Configuration

Workstation vs Server GC

<!-- In the .csproj file -->
<PropertyGroup>
  <ServerGarbageCollection>true</ServerGarbageCollection>
</PropertyGroup>

// Or in runtimeconfig.json
{
  "runtimeOptions": {
    "configProperties": {
      "System.GC.Server": true
    }
  }
}

Concurrent vs Non-Concurrent GC

{
  "runtimeOptions": {
    "configProperties": {
      "System.GC.Concurrent": true
    }
  }
}

DATAS (Dynamic Adaptation to Application Sizes) — .NET 8+

DATAS dynamically adjusts GC heap size based on application memory usage patterns. It is enabled by default in .NET 8+ Server GC mode. DATAS reduces memory footprint for applications with variable load by shrinking the heap during low-activity periods.

{
  "runtimeOptions": {
    "configProperties": {
      "System.GC.DynamicAdaptationMode": 1
    }
  }
}

Set to 0 to disable DATAS if you observe excessive GC frequency in steady-state workloads.

GC Regions — .NET 7+

Regions replace the older segment-based heap management. Each region is a small, fixed-size block of memory that the GC can allocate and free independently. Regions are enabled by default in .NET 7+ and improve:

• Memory return to the OS after usage spikes
• Heap compaction efficiency
• Server GC scalability on high-core-count machines

No configuration is needed — regions are the default. To revert to segments (rarely needed):

{
  "runtimeOptions": {
    "configProperties": {
      "System.GC.Regions": false
    }
  }
}

Generational GC (Gen0/1/2)

How Generations Work

Objects promote from Gen0 to Gen1 to Gen2 as they survive collections. The GC budget for Gen0 is tuned dynamically — when Gen0 fills, a Gen0 collection triggers.

Tuning Principles

1. Minimize Gen0 allocation rate — reduce temporary object creation on hot paths. Every allocation contributes to Gen0 pressure.
2. Avoid mid-life crisis — objects that live just long enough to promote to Gen1/Gen2 but then become garbage are the most expensive. They survive cheap Gen0 collections and require expensive Gen2 collections to reclaim.
3. Reduce Gen2 collection frequency — Gen2 collections cause the longest pauses. Use object pooling, Span, and value types to keep long-lived heap allocations low.

Monitoring Generations

# Real-time GC metrics
dotnet-counters monitor --process-id <PID> \
  --counters System.Runtime[gen-0-gc-count,gen-1-gc-count,gen-2-gc-count,gc-heap-size]

// Programmatic GC observation
var gen0 = GC.CollectionCount(0);
var gen1 = GC.CollectionCount(1);
var gen2 = GC.CollectionCount(2);
var totalMemory = GC.GetTotalMemory(forceFullCollection: false);
var memoryInfo = GC.GetGCMemoryInfo();

logger.LogInformation(
    "GC: Gen0={Gen0} Gen1={Gen1} Gen2={Gen2} Heap={HeapMB:F1}MB",
    gen0, gen1, gen2, totalMemory / (1024.0 * 1024));

Large Object Heap (LOH) and Pinned Object Heap (POH)

LOH

Objects >= 85,000 bytes are allocated on the LOH. LOH collections only happen during Gen2 collections, and by default the LOH is not compacted (causing fragmentation).

// Force LOH compaction (use sparingly -- expensive)
GCSettings.LargeObjectHeapCompactionMode =
    GCLargeObjectHeapCompactionMode.CompactOnce;
GC.Collect();

LOH Fragmentation Prevention

POH (Pinned Object Heap) — .NET 5+

The POH is a dedicated heap for objects that must remain at a fixed memory address (pinned). Before .NET 5, pinning objects on the regular heap prevented compaction. The POH isolates pinned objects so they do not block compaction of Gen0/1/2 heaps.

// Allocate on POH -- useful for I/O buffers passed to native code
byte[] buffer = GC.AllocateArray<byte>(4096, pinned: true);

// The buffer's address will not change, safe for native interop
// and overlapped I/O without explicit GCHandle pinning

Use POH for:

• I/O buffers passed to native/unmanaged code
• Memory-mapped file backing arrays
• Buffers used with Socket.ReceiveAsync (overlapped I/O)

Span/Memory Deep Ownership Patterns

See [skill:dotnet-performance-patterns] for Span/Memory introduction and basic slicing. This section covers ownership semantics and lifetime management for shared buffers.

IMemoryOwner for Pooled Buffers

// Rent from MemoryPool and manage lifetime with IDisposable
using IMemoryOwner<byte> owner = MemoryPool<byte>.Shared.Rent(4096);
Memory<byte> buffer = owner.Memory[..4096]; // Slice to exact size needed

// Pass the Memory<T> to async I/O
int bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(buffer, cancellationToken);
Memory<byte> data = buffer[..bytesRead];

// Process the data
await ProcessDataAsync(data, cancellationToken);
// owner.Dispose() returns the buffer to the pool

Ownership Transfer Pattern

When transferring buffer ownership between components, use IMemoryOwner<T> to make lifetime responsibility explicit:

public sealed class MessageParser
{
    // Caller transfers ownership -- this method is responsible for disposal
    public async Task ProcessAsync(
        IMemoryOwner<byte> messageOwner,
        CancellationToken ct)
    {
        using (messageOwner)
        {
            Memory<byte> data = messageOwner.Memory;
            // Parse and process...
            await HandleMessageAsync(data, ct);
        }
        // Buffer returned to pool on dispose
    }
}

Span Stack Discipline

// Span<T> enforces stack-only usage (ref struct)
// These are compile-time errors:
// Span<byte> field;              // Cannot store in class/struct field
// async Task Foo(Span<byte> s);  // Cannot use in async method
// var list = new List<Span<byte>>(); // Cannot use as generic type argument

// When you need heap storage or async, use Memory<T> instead
public async Task ProcessAsync(Memory<byte> buffer, CancellationToken ct)
{
    // Can use Memory<T> in async methods
    int bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(buffer, ct);

    // Convert to Span<T> for synchronous processing within a method
    Span<byte> span = buffer.Span;
    ParseHeader(span[..bytesRead]);
}

ArrayPool and MemoryPool

ArrayPool

ArrayPool<T> reduces GC pressure by reusing array allocations. Always return rented arrays, and never assume the returned array is exactly the requested size.

// Rent and return pattern
byte[] buffer = ArrayPool<byte>.Shared.Rent(minimumLength: 4096);
try
{
    // IMPORTANT: Rented array may be larger than requested
    int bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(
        buffer.AsMemory(0, 4096), cancellationToken);
    ProcessData(buffer.AsSpan(0, bytesRead));
}
finally
{
    // clearArray: true when buffer contained sensitive data
    ArrayPool<byte>.Shared.Return(buffer, clearArray: false);
}

Custom Pool Sizing

// Create a custom pool for specific allocation patterns
var pool = ArrayPool<byte>.Create(
    maxArrayLength: 1_048_576,  // 1 MB max array
    maxArraysPerBucket: 50);    // Keep up to 50 arrays per size bucket

// Use for workloads with predictable buffer sizes
byte[] buffer = pool.Rent(65_536);
try
{
    // Process...
}
finally
{
    pool.Return(buffer);
}

MemoryPool

MemoryPool<T> wraps ArrayPool<T> and returns IMemoryOwner<T> for RAII-style lifetime management:

// MemoryPool returns IMemoryOwner<T> -- dispose to return
using IMemoryOwner<byte> owner = MemoryPool<byte>.Shared.Rent(8192);
Memory<byte> buffer = owner.Memory;

// Slice to exact size (owner.Memory may be larger)
int bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(buffer[..8192], ct);
await ProcessAsync(buffer[..bytesRead], ct);
// Dispose returns the underlying array to the pool

Pool Usage Guidelines

Weak References and Caching

WeakReference

Weak references allow the GC to collect the target object when no strong references remain. Use for caches where reclamation under memory pressure is acceptable.

public sealed class ImageCache
{
    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, WeakReference<byte[]>> _cache = new();

    public byte[]? TryGet(string key)
    {
        if (_cache.TryGetValue(key, out var weakRef)
            && weakRef.TryGetTarget(out var data))
        {
            return data;
        }
        return null;
    }

    public void Set(string key, byte[] data)
    {
        _cache[key] = new WeakReference<byte[]>(data);
    }

    // Periodically clean up dead references
    public void Purge()
    {
        foreach (var key in _cache.Keys)
        {
            if (_cache.TryGetValue(key, out var weakRef)
                && !weakRef.TryGetTarget(out _))
            {
                _cache.TryRemove(key, out _);
            }
        }
    }
}

When to Use Weak References

• Large object caches where memory pressure should trigger eviction
• Caches for expensive-to-compute but recreatable data (image thumbnails, rendered templates)
• Do NOT use for small objects — the WeakReference<T> overhead outweighs the benefit

For most caching scenarios, prefer MemoryCache with size limits and expiration policies. Weak references are a last resort when you need GC-driven eviction.

Finalizers vs IDisposable

IDisposable (Preferred)

Implement IDisposable to release unmanaged resources deterministically:

public sealed class NativeBufferWrapper : IDisposable
{
    private IntPtr _handle;
    private bool _disposed;

    public NativeBufferWrapper(int size)
    {
        _handle = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(size);
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        if (_disposed) return;
        _disposed = true;

        Marshal.FreeHGlobal(_handle);
        _handle = IntPtr.Zero;
        // No GC.SuppressFinalize needed -- no finalizer
    }
}

Finalizer (Safety Net Only)

Finalizers run on the GC finalizer thread when an object is collected. They are a safety net for unmanaged resources that were not disposed explicitly.

public class UnmanagedResourceHolder : IDisposable
{
    private IntPtr _handle;
    private bool _disposed;

    public UnmanagedResourceHolder(int size)
    {
        _handle = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(size);
    }

    ~UnmanagedResourceHolder()
    {
        Dispose(disposing: false);
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        Dispose(disposing: true);
        GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
    }

    protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (_disposed) return;
        _disposed = true;

        if (disposing)
        {
            // Free managed resources
        }

        // Free unmanaged resources
        if (_handle != IntPtr.Zero)
        {
            Marshal.FreeHGlobal(_handle);
            _handle = IntPtr.Zero;
        }
    }
}

Finalizer Costs

Rule: Use sealed classes with IDisposable (no finalizer) unless you own unmanaged handles. Only add a finalizer as a safety net for unmanaged resources.

Memory Pressure Notifications

GC.AddMemoryPressure / RemoveMemoryPressure

Inform the GC about unmanaged memory allocations so it accounts for them in collection decisions:

public sealed class NativeImageBuffer : IDisposable
{
    private readonly IntPtr _buffer;
    private readonly long _size;
    private bool _disposed;

    public NativeImageBuffer(long sizeBytes)
    {
        _size = sizeBytes;
        _buffer = Marshal.AllocHGlobal((IntPtr)sizeBytes);
        GC.AddMemoryPressure(sizeBytes);
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        if (_disposed) return;
        _disposed = true;

        Marshal.FreeHGlobal(_buffer);
        GC.RemoveMemoryPressure(_size);
    }
}

GC.GetGCMemoryInfo for Adaptive Behavior

// React to memory pressure in application logic
var memoryInfo = GC.GetGCMemoryInfo();
double loadPercent = (double)memoryInfo.MemoryLoadBytes
    / memoryInfo.TotalAvailableMemoryBytes * 100;

if (loadPercent > 85)
{
    logger.LogWarning("High memory pressure: {Load:F1}%", loadPercent);
    // Shed load: reduce cache sizes, reject non-critical requests
}

Memory Profiling

dotMemory (JetBrains)

dotMemory provides heap snapshots and allocation tracking with a visual UI. Use it for investigating memory leaks and high-allocation hot paths.

Workflow:

1. Attach dotMemory to the running process (or launch with profiling enabled)
2. Capture a baseline snapshot after application warm-up
3. Execute the scenario under investigation
4. Capture a second snapshot
5. Compare snapshots to identify retained objects and growth

Key views:

• Sunburst — shows allocation tree by type hierarchy
• Dominator tree — shows which objects prevent GC of retained memory
• Survived objects — objects allocated between snapshots that survived GC

PerfView

PerfView is a free Microsoft tool for detailed GC and allocation analysis. It uses ETW (Event Tracing for Windows) events for low-overhead profiling.

# Collect GC and allocation events for 30 seconds
PerfView.exe /GCCollectOnly /MaxCollectSec:30 collect

# Collect allocation stacks (higher overhead)
PerfView.exe /ClrEvents:GC+Stack /MaxCollectSec:30 collect

Key PerfView views:

• GCStats — GC pause times, generation counts, promotion rates, fragmentation
• GC Heap Alloc Stacks — call stacks responsible for allocations
• Any Stacks — CPU sampling for identifying hot methods

Profiling Workflow

1. Identify the symptom — high memory usage, growing Gen2, frequent Gen2 collections, LOH fragmentation
2. Monitor with dotnet-counters (see [skill:dotnet-profiling]) to confirm GC metrics match the symptom
3. Profile with dotMemory or PerfView to identify the objects and allocation sites
4. Apply fixes — pool buffers, use Span, reduce allocations, fix leaks
5. Validate with BenchmarkDotNet (see [skill:dotnet-benchmarkdotnet]) [MemoryDiagnoser] to confirm improvement
6. Monitor in production via OpenTelemetry runtime metrics (see [skill:dotnet-observability])

Agent Gotchas

1. Do not default to workstation GC for ASP.NET Core applications — server GC is the default and correct choice for web workloads. Workstation GC has lower throughput on multi-core servers. Only override for specific latency-sensitive scenarios.
2. Do not forget to return ArrayPool buffers — leaked pool buffers are worse than regular allocations because they hold pool capacity indefinitely. Always use try/finally or IMemoryOwner<T> with using.
3. Do not assume rented arrays are the requested size — ArrayPool<T>.Rent() may return an array larger than requested. Always slice to the exact size needed before processing.
4. Do not add finalizers to classes that only use managed resources — finalizers promote objects to Gen1/Gen2 and add overhead to GC. Use sealed class with IDisposable (no finalizer) for managed-only cleanup.
5. Do not call GC.Collect() in production code — forcing full collections causes long pauses and disrupts the GC’s dynamic tuning. Use GC.AddMemoryPressure() to hint at unmanaged memory instead.
6. Do not ignore LOH fragmentation — large arrays (>= 85,000 bytes) allocated and freed repeatedly fragment the LOH. Use ArrayPool<T> to rent and return large buffers instead of allocating new arrays.
7. Do not cache IMemoryOwner in long-lived fields without disposal tracking — the underlying pooled buffer is held indefinitely, preventing pool reuse. Transfer ownership explicitly or limit cache lifetimes.

References

• Fundamentals of garbage collection
• Workstation and server GC
• Large Object Heap
• Pinned Object Heap
• Memory and Span usage guidelines
• ArrayPool class
• GC.GetGCMemoryInfo
• PerfView GC analysis tutorial
• Stephen Toub — Performance Improvements in .NET series (published annually)
• IDisposable pattern