Java / Android Garbage Collection of Static private variables

Question

Lets say I have a Fragment defined as such:

public class MyFragment extends Fragment {
   private static String sample = "";

   public static void setSample(String s) {
      sample = s;
   }
}

for the lifetime of the Application, will sample get garbage collected (whether or not any references to MyFragment exist - which shouldn't matter I think)?

Answer 1

You're right that the number of instances of MyFragment don't matter.

The sample variable will effectively be a GC root for as long as the classloader that loaded MyFragment is alive.

It's important to note that variables are never garbage collected - objects are.

Answer 2

As long as the class is not unloaded, sample variable will not be garbage collected.

A class or interface may be unloaded if and only if its defining class loader may be reclaimed by the garbage collector as discussed in §12.6. Classes and interfaces loaded by the bootstrap loader may not be unloaded