Garbage collection in Python is an automatic memory management process that helps in reclaiming memory occupied by objects that are no longer in use. Just as we clean up our living spaces to remove unnecessary items, Python’s garbage collector identifies and removes unused data, preventing memory leaks and optimizing performance. This process is primarily based on reference counting, where each object maintains a count of references pointing to it. When the count drops to zero, the object is eligible for garbage collection. Additionally, Python employs techniques to handle cyclic references, ensuring efficient memory management throughout the program’s lifecycle.