heap « object reference « Java Class Q&A

1. How can I access Java heap objects without a reference?    stackoverflow.com

I would like to get a reference to all objects in the Java heap, even if I don't immediately have a reference to those objects in my active thread. I don't ...

2. Java: Change object reference on the heap?    stackoverflow.com

Wondering if there is a way to change the object on the heap that other objects are referencing. What I am specifically trying to do is manage my transient configuration. What ...

3. Java objects, reference variables and the garbage collection heap    stackoverflow.com

I know you can create 2 object reference variables, such as:

Book b;
Book c;

b = new Book();
c = new Book();

4. When does 'Reference object' can be reclaimed?    stackoverflow.com

Now, I met a strange case likes that:

public class SoftRefDemo {

     private static List<SoftReference<String>> cache;

     public static void main(String[] args) {
   ...

5. References to Objects on the Heap + Garbage Collection    forums.oracle.com

in my eternal battle to the death with the book im trying to finish i have another question: how does the JVM reference objects? i know references are 4 bytes. i always thought they were memory locations of the object. however, doesnt the garbage collector move data in the heap sometimes to create more contiguous regions of free memory? if so, ...