Erlang manages memory and performs garbage collection using a combination of techniques designed to provide efficient memory utilization and automatic memory management. Here are the key aspects of memory management and garbage collection in Erlang:

1. Process-Based Memory Allocation : In Erlang, each process has its own isolated memory space. Memory allocation for each process is done independently, allowing processes to allocate and deallocate memory without affecting other processes. This approach ensures that memory usage is controlled at the process level, enabling isolation and fault tolerance.

2. Generational Garbage Collection : Erlang employs a generational garbage collection strategy, specifically a form of generational copying garbage collection. Memory is divided into generations based on the age of objects. Younger objects are placed in the young generation, while older objects are moved to the older generation. The garbage collector primarily focuses on reclaiming memory in the young generation, as most short-lived objects reside there.

3. Copying Garbage Collection : The garbage collector in Erlang uses a copying algorithm. When a garbage collection cycle is triggered, live objects are copied from one memory space (called the from-space) to another (called the to-space). The copying process compacts memory and eliminates fragmentation, resulting in efficient memory usage.

4. Incremental and Concurrent Garbage Collection : Erlang's garbage collector is designed to minimize pauses and avoid disrupting the responsiveness of the system. It employs an incremental approach where garbage collection work is performed in small, incremental steps, interleaved with the execution of processes. This allows garbage collection to progress gradually without significant interruptions to the running system. 5. Preemptive Scheduling : Erlang's runtime system employs preemptive scheduling, which ensures that garbage collection can be triggered even when a process is not explicitly yielding control. The runtime system periodically interrupts executing processes to perform garbage collection and other system-related tasks.

6. Reductions and Heap Size : Erlang's garbage collector uses a metric called "reductions" to determine when to trigger garbage collection. Reductions are a unit of work performed by the Erlang runtime system. Garbage collection is initiated when a certain number of reductions have been executed or when the heap size reaches a specific threshold.

7. Tuning Garbage Collection : Erlang provides various configuration options to tune the garbage collector's behavior, allowing developers to optimize memory usage and garbage collection performance based on their specific application requirements. Parameters such as the heap size, reduction count, and garbage collection thresholds can be adjusted to achieve the desired balance between memory usage and system responsiveness.