What is the reason for the significant difference in time taken between major and minor GC in Java?

edit

The significant difference in time taken between major and minor GC in Java is primarily due to the difference in the size of the memory space being managed.

In minor GC, only a small portion of the memory space, such as the young generation, is collected. This area contains recently created objects and is usually smaller than the old generation, which contains long-lived objects. Since the young generation is smaller, the minor GC can be performed quickly.

On the other hand, major GC collects the entire heap, including both the young and old generations. This process can take significantly longer compared to minor GC as it involves examining and cleaning up a larger amount of memory space. Additionally, major GC may also involve more complex algorithms, such as mark-and-sweep or concurrent GC, to manage the old generation, which can further increase its time taken.

Overall, the difference in time taken between major and minor GC is due to the difference in the amount of memory being managed, and the complexity of the garbage collection algorithm being used.