Heap memory is the portion of memory where objects are allocated in Java and many other programming languages. It's managed by the garbage collector, which automatically frees up memory that's no longer being used by the program.

How to use it in a sentence

• "We better check for memory leaks - looks like our app is gobbling up heap memory faster than Elon Musk buys failing social media companies!"

• "Hmm, the heap memory usage keeps spiking to 100% on the production servers. Time to dig into the code and figure out which genius forgot to clean up their objects... again."

If you actually want to learn more...

• Six things I wish we had known about scaling - Martin Kleppmann dives into the challenges of scaling databases, including replication headaches, the importance of memory efficiency, and how distributed datastores like MongoDB don't magically solve all your problems.

• Memory Image - Martin Fowler ponders whether we even need traditional databases, exploring the concept of using a memory image for persistence. He covers event sourcing, high-performance systems like LMAX, and the good ol' days of Smalltalk development.

• What digits should you bet on in Super Bowl squares? - Okay, this one's not directly related, but if you're looking to win big in the office Super Bowl squares pool, data scientist David Robinson has you covered with some statistical analysis. Hey, you might need that extra cash to upgrade your heap memory!

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.