Garbage Collection in

Databricks
This guide provides an in-depth exploration of garbage collection (GC) in
Databricks, focusing on its role in managing memory for Apache Spark
applications running on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It covers the
fundamentals of GC, its mechanics, triggers, performance impacts, and
optimization strategies, with a particular emphasis on handling large
datasets.
Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction to Garbage Collection

• 2. Garbage Collection in the JVM

• 3. Garbage Collection in Spark Applications

• 4. When Does Garbage Collection Occur?

• 5. How Garbage Collection Works in Databricks

• 6. Optimizing Garbage Collection in Databricks

• 7. Releasing Memory After Unpersisting DataFrames

• 8. Challenges with Garbage Collection

• 9. Best Practices for Handling Large Datasets

• 10. Conclusion
 1 Introduction to Garbage
Collection

Garbage collection is an automatic memory management process that

reclaims memory occupied by objects no longer referenced by a program,
preventing memory leaks and ensuring efficient memory usage.

GC maintains application stability in memory-intensive environments like

Databricks, where large datasets are processed.

In Databricks, GC is critical for Apache Spark applications, which rely on

the JVM to manage memory during data processing tasks. For example,
processing datasets with thousands of rows containing complex data can
trigger frequent GC, impacting performance.

Key Takeaway

GC mitigates these risks by automating memory cleanup, allowing

developers to focus on data logic rather than manual memory
management, which is prone to errors like dangling pointers or
unreleased memory blocks.
 2 Garbage Collection in the JVM

The JVM underpins Apache Spark and Databricks, making its GC

mechanisms critical to understanding system performance. The JVM
employs a generational approach to memory management, optimizing for
the observation that most objects have short lifespans.

JVM Memory Structure

The JVM heap is segmented into distinct areas, each with a specific role
in GC:

Young Generation: Comprises Eden and two Survivor Spaces (S0, S1). New
objects are allocated in Eden; those surviving Minor GC cycles move to Survivor
Spaces, and eventually to the Old Generation if they persist.

Old Generation: Houses long-lived objects, collected via Full GC, which is more
resource-intensive due to the larger memory scope.

Metaspace: Introduced in Java 8, this region stores class metadata and grows
dynamically, separate from the heap's GC cycles.

For example, a Spark task creating temporary arrays during a shuffle

operation allocates them in Eden. If these arrays are short-lived, they're
collected quickly; otherwise, they may migrate to the Old Generation,
impacting GC frequency.
GC Algorithms
The JVM offers multiple GC algorithms, each tailored to different
performance needs:

ALGORITHM DESCRIPTION PROS CONS

High
Multi-threaded,
throughput Longer pause
Parallel GC throughput-
for batch times.
focused collector.
jobs.

Low latency
Concurrent
for Heap
CMS GC collector
interactive fragmentation.
minimizing pauses.
apps.

Region-based,
Suitable for
balances Complex
G1 GC large heaps
throughput and tuning.
in Spark.
pauses.

Low-pause
Minimal Experimental in
ZGC collector for
pauses. Databricks.
massive heaps.

In Databricks, G1 GC is often preferred for its ability to handle large heaps

typical of big data workloads, providing a compromise between
throughput and pause time predictability.

GC Process
GC operates in two primary modes:

Minor GC: Targets the Young Generation, swiftly reclaiming short-lived objects.
It's triggered when Eden fills, typically completing in milliseconds.

Full GC: Encompasses the entire heap, including Old Generation and Metaspace
(if applicable). It's slower, often pausing the application for seconds, depending
on heap size.

A practical example: a Spark job aggregating data might trigger Minor GC

every few seconds as temporary objects fill Eden, while a Full GC might
occur hourly if cached DataFrames accumulate in the Old Generation.
 3 Garbage Collection in Spark
Applications

Apache Spark, the engine powering Databricks, leverages the JVM's

memory management, making GC integral to its operation. Spark's
memory model interacts closely with GC, influencing application
performance.

Spark Memory Management

Spark employs a Unified Memory Management system, dividing the heap

into:

Execution Memory: Used for computation tasks like shuffles, joins, and
aggregations. It's dynamic and can borrow from Storage Memory if needed.

Storage Memory: Reserved for caching DataFrames and RDDs, enhancing

performance by keeping data in memory.

Key Takeaway

For instance, caching a 10GB dataset in Storage Memory reduces

disk I/O but increases GC pressure if the Old Generation fills,
triggering Full GC events.
Interaction with GC
GC pauses Spark tasks during collection, particularly during Full GC,
which can halt all executors. High object churn—e.g., from iterative
machine learning algorithms—exacerbates this, as does excessive
caching, which bloats the heap.

Example: A Spark streaming job processing real-time logs might

experience 5-second pauses during Full GC, delaying output unless tuned
properly.
 4 When Does Garbage Collection
Occur?

GC is initiated by specific conditions in Databricks, often tied to memory

pressure or workload characteristics:

Low Available Memory: When the heap nears capacity, GC reclaims space to
allow new allocations.

High Object Churn: Rapid object creation and disposal, common in row-by-row
processing or UDFs, triggers frequent Minor GC.

Full GC Events: Occur when Minor GC fails to free sufficient memory or the Old
Generation is saturated.

Databricks-Specific Triggers:
Shuffle Operations: Data redistribution creates temporary objects, filling
Eden quickly.

Caching Large Datasets: Persisting multi-GB DataFrames increases Old

Generation usage.

Streaming Backfills: Processing large initial datasets in Structured Streaming

can spike memory usage.

Example: A shuffle-heavy join on a 1TB dataset might trigger Minor GC

every minute and Full GC every 30 minutes if not optimized.
 5 How Garbage Collection Works
in Databricks

In Databricks, GC aligns with JVM principles but is tailored to Spark's

distributed nature and memory demands.

Memory Generations
The generational model applies: Young Generation handles transient
objects (e.g., shuffle buffers), while Old Generation stores persistent data
(e.g., cached tables). Efficient tuning ensures short-lived objects don't
unnecessarily reach the Old Generation.

GC Cycle
A GC cycle involves marking live objects, sweeping garbage, and
optionally compacting memory. In Databricks:

Minor GC: Fast, targeting Eden and Survivor Spaces.

Full GC: Comprehensive, impacting all generations and potentially pausing tasks
for seconds or minutes.
The efficiency of garbage collection directly impacts the performance of your
Databricks jobs. Understanding the GC cycle helps you optimize memory
usage and minimize pauses.
 6 Optimizing Garbage Collection
in Databricks

Effective GC optimization enhances Spark performance, reducing pauses

and memory overhead. Strategies span JVM tuning, Spark configuration,
and coding practices.

JVM Tuning
Key JVM adjustments include:

Heap Size: -Xmx16g sets a 16GB heap, reducing GC frequency but increasing
pause duration if too large.

GC Algorithm: -XX:+UseG1GC enables G1 GC, ideal for large heaps.

Logging: -XX:+PrintGCDetails -verbose:gc logs GC activity for analysis.

spark.executor.extraJavaOptions=-XX:+UseG1GC -Xmx16g -XX:+Print

Spark Configuration
Spark settings to mitigate GC impact:

spark.memory.fraction : Adjusts heap fraction for Spark (default 0.6).

 spark.memory.storageFraction : Limits Storage Memory (default 0.5 of
unified memory).

spark.kryo.serializer : Uses Kryo for efficient serialization.

spark.conf.set("spark.memory.fraction", "0.8")

Additional Techniques
Advanced methods include:

Off-Heap Memory: spark.memory.offHeap.enabled=true shifts data

outside JVM heap.

Tungsten Engine: Leverages compact data structures, reducing object overhead.

Batching: Process data in smaller chunks to limit object creation.

Key Takeaway

Optimizing GC settings can significantly improve Spark job

performance. Start with G1 GC for large workloads and monitor GC
metrics to fine-tune your configuration.
 7 Releasing Memory After
Unpersisting DataFrames

Unpersisting DataFrames should free memory, but JVM delays can occur.
Techniques to ensure release:

Blocking Unpersist: df.unpersist(blocking=True) waits until memory is

cleared.

Manual GC: System.gc() suggests GC, though not guaranteed.

Monitoring: Tools like JVisualVM or Spark UI confirm memory release.

Example: After unpersisting a 5GB DataFrame, heap usage should drop in

the Spark UI; if not, check for lingering references.

Remember that unpersisting a DataFrame doesn't immediately free memory.

The JVM decides when to actually perform garbage collection based on its
internal algorithms.
 8 Challenges with Garbage
Collection

GC introduces complexities in Databricks, particularly under demanding

conditions.

Real-time Applications
In streaming jobs, Full GC pauses (e.g., 10 seconds) can disrupt data flow,
risking latency spikes or data loss. Low-pause collectors like ZGC may
help, though less common in Databricks.

Multi-tenant Environments
Shared clusters face unpredictable GC due to varying workloads. A
memory-intensive job can trigger frequent GC, slowing others. Dedicated
clusters or resource isolation mitigate this.

Data Skew
Uneven data distribution can overload specific executors, increasing GC
frequency on those nodes while others remain idle, complicating
performance tuning.
Key Takeaway

Understanding GC challenges helps you design more resilient

Databricks applications. Consider workload patterns, data
distribution, and cluster configuration to minimize GC impact.
 9 Best Practices for Handling
Large Datasets

Optimizing for large datasets minimizes GC overhead and boosts

efficiency:

Broadcast Variables: Use spark.sparkContext.broadcast() for small

lookup tables, reducing memory duplication.

Minimize Object Creation: Avoid excessive UDFs or collections; prefer primitives

or arrays.

Catalyst Optimizer: Leverage Spark's query optimization for efficient execution

plans.

Partitioning: Adjust with df.repartition(n) to balance memory load.

Monitoring: Use Spark UI's "GC Time" metric to identify bottlenecks.

Example: Broadcasting a 1MB reference table in a 100TB join operation

avoids replicating it across executors, cutting GC pressure.
 10 Conclusion

Garbage Collection is indispensable in Databricks, enabling robust

memory management for Spark applications handling vast datasets. By
mastering JVM mechanics, tuning configurations, and adopting best
practices, users can mitigate GC's pitfalls—such as pauses and memory
leaks—while maximizing performance.

Key Takeaways

Tune G1 GC for large-scale Spark jobs

Monitor and adjust heap usage proactively

Optimize code to reduce object churn and memory footprint

With these strategies, Databricks users can harness GC to support

scalable, efficient data processing without copyright restrictions impeding
knowledge sharing.