title: Java List.clear() vs. List = null
body: <p>I'm running my application under a profiler and the memory usage is much higher than I expect, where objects are still in existence after they are no longer needed. Most of them are in lists where the list object has gone out of context.</p>
  
  <p>Does it take the garbage collector longer to free up objects that are sitting in a list, even if the list itself is no longer referenced? If so, will they free up sooner if I call clear() on the list before it goes out of context?</p>
  
  <p>thanks - dave</p>