Why pointer concept not use in java?

The consensus among numerous studies indicates that pointers represent a significant contributing factor to the introduction of bugs in software code. Consequently, when Java was conceived, the primary aim was to design a language that prioritizes ease of learning and minimizes the susceptibility to bugs prevalent in C++. Java deviates from the necessity of managing memory manually through destructors, as it employs an automatic Garbage Collector for efficient memory management. Java references, in essence, function as pointers, facilitating access to all elements within the Java environment.

Some reasons for Java does not support Pointers:

1. Memory access via pointer arithmetic: Memory access through pointer arithmetic is inherently risky and unsafe. Java, as a language, is built on a robust security model, which explicitly prohibits pointer arithmetic for the same compelling reasons. Allowing pointer arithmetic in Java would present a challenge for the Virtual Machine to guarantee the safety of code without incurring substantial overhead from runtime checks. Therefore, Java's deliberate exclusion of pointer arithmetic ensures a secure and reliable environment for developers, maintaining a high level of confidence in the language's ability to prevent memory-related vulnerabilities.
2. Security:Java's deliberate decision not to allow pointers grants developers an additional layer of abstraction, shielding them from the intricacies and potential pitfalls associated with direct memory management. By eliminating pointer support, Java reinforces its security measures as pointers inherently point to specific memory locations, which could compromise the system's safety if mishandled. Through this approach, Java develops a secure programming environment by preventing inadvertent or malicious access to memory locations and ensuring that developers work within a more controlled and protected context.
3. Passing argument by reference:Passing a reference that allows modification of a variable in the caller's scope is not supported in Java, but it is a relatively uncommon requirement, and there are alternative methods to achieve similar functionality. This concept is akin to altering a field within the scope of an object visible to both the caller and the callee. In Java, modifications to variables are typically achieved through return values or object manipulation, maintaining the language's emphasis on encapsulation and preventing unintended side effects.
4. Manual memory management:Pointers in languages like C and C++ allow manual control and allocation of memory, which can be useful for certain applications like games and device drivers. However, for general-purpose Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), the use of pointers can introduce complexities and potential bugs, making it less suitable for everyday programming tasks.
   

   Java, on the other hand, adopts a different approach by providing automatic Garbage Collection (GC) as part of its memory management strategy. The Garbage Collector automatically identifies and reclaims unused memory, freeing the programmer from manual memory management tasks. This automatic memory management simplifies the development process and helps prevent memory leaks and related issues, making Java a robust and user-friendly language for various applications.

Conclusion

The pointer concept is not used in Java to provide a higher level of abstraction and ensure a more secure programming environment. Java's design focuses on encapsulation and automatic memory management through Garbage Collection, which helps prevent memory-related vulnerabilities and makes the language easier to learn and use for general-purpose Object-Oriented Programming.