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Garbage collection in Java is a process that automatically frees up memory that is no longer being used by your program. It's like a cleaning service for your program's memory, taking care of objects that are no longer needed so that the memory they occupy can be reused for new objects.

Here's a simple way to understand it:

1. Creating Objects: In Java, when you create objects (like when you're creating new characters in a video game), these objects use up a portion of your computer's memory.

2. Using Objects: As long as your program is using these objects, they stay in memory. This is like having books out on a desk that you are currently reading.

3. No Longer Needed: Eventually, some objects are no longer needed. Maybe your program has moved on to a different task, just like you might finish reading some of those books. But, just finishing reading doesn't automatically put the books back on the shelf.

4. Garbage Collection Kicks In: This is where garbage collection comes in. Java has a built-in garbage collector whose job is to find these "no longer needed" objects and free up the memory they occupy. It's like someone comes in, sees the books you're done with, and puts them back on the shelf for you.

5. Reusing Memory: Once the memory is freed up, Java can use that space for new objects, just like you can use the cleared space on your desk for new books.

This process is automatic in Java. As a programmer, you generally don't need to manually manage memory, which is different from languages like C or C++ where you have to explicitly free memory. The garbage collector runs in the background, helping to ensure that your program doesn't run out of memory by cleaning up old, unused objects.