all Python 3gcfunction

gc.isenabled()

collection control

Returns True if automatic collection of cyclic garbage is enabled.

Syntax

gc.isenabled()

It lets you restore state correctly: 'turn it off for a while' means remember isenabled(), disable, and in finally re-enable only if it was enabled. Otherwise your code turns on a collector the caller had turned off. The answer says nothing about manual gc.collect calls — they work even with automation off.

Examples

import gc
was = gc.isenabled()
gc.disable()
try:
    print(gc.isenabled())  # → False
finally:
    if was:
        gc.enable()
print(gc.isenabled())  # → True

See also

Open in the full glossarydocs.python.orgReport an inaccuracy