---
id: wiki-2026-0508-chrome-v8-heap-analysis
title: Chrome V8 Heap Analysis
category: 10_Wiki/Topics
status: verified
canonical_id: self
aliases: [V8 Heap Snapshot, Chrome DevTools Memory, Heap Profiler]
duplicate_of: none
source_trust_level: A
confidence_score: 0.9
verification_status: applied
tags: [v8, chrome, heap, debugging, performance]
raw_sources: []
last_reinforced: 2026-05-10
github_commit: pending
tech_stack:
  language: javascript
  framework: chrome-devtools
---

# Chrome V8 Heap Analysis

## 매 한 줄
> **"매 heap snapshot 의 retain path"**. 매 V8 의 mark-sweep + generational GC 의 internal state 의 DevTools Memory tab 을 통한 introspection 의 production 의 leak 의 root cause 의 identification 의 enable. 매 2026 년 의 Chrome 132+ 의 trace-based + sampling allocator 의 < 5% overhead 의 production profiling 의 standard.

## 매 핵심

### 매 Snapshot 종류
- **Heap snapshot**: 매 모든 reachable object 의 graph 의 capture. 매 retainers 의 trace.
- **Allocation timeline**: 매 시간 에 따라 allocate 된 object 의 추적. 매 churn 의 detection.
- **Allocation sampling**: 매 lightweight (5% 이하 overhead). 매 production 의 OK.

### 매 V8 GC structure
- **Young generation (Scavenger)**: 매 fast minor GC. 매 semi-space copying.
- **Old generation (Mark-Sweep-Compact)**: 매 incremental mark + concurrent sweep.
- **Code space, Map space, Large object space**: 매 separate region.

### 매 응용
1. Memory leak hunt — DOM detached node 의 detection.
2. Bundle size 의 runtime impact analysis.
3. Closure-induced retention 의 audit.
4. Listener leak 의 trace.

## 💻 패턴

### Programmatic snapshot (Node.js / Electron)
```javascript
const v8 = require('v8');
const fs = require('fs');

function takeHeapSnapshot(label) {
  const path = `./heap-${label}-${Date.now()}.heapsnapshot`;
  const stream = v8.getHeapSnapshot();
  stream.pipe(fs.createWriteStream(path));
  return path;
}

// Usage: take 3 snapshots, compare in DevTools
takeHeapSnapshot('baseline');
runWorkload();
global.gc?.();
takeHeapSnapshot('after-gc');
```

### Detached DOM detection
```javascript
// In Console / Snapshot Comparison view
// Filter by "Detached HTMLDivElement"
// → retainer chain shows the closure / array holding it

class LeakyComponent {
  constructor() {
    this.handlers = [];
    document.addEventListener('scroll', this.onScroll); // leak: never removed
  }
  onScroll = () => { /* ... */ }
}
// Fix: store bound ref, removeEventListener in destroy()
```

### CDP (Chrome DevTools Protocol) automation
```javascript
const CDP = require('chrome-remote-interface');

async function profileHeap() {
  const client = await CDP();
  const { HeapProfiler } = client;
  await HeapProfiler.enable();
  await HeapProfiler.collectGarbage();
  const chunks = [];
  HeapProfiler.on('addHeapSnapshotChunk', ({ chunk }) => chunks.push(chunk));
  await HeapProfiler.takeHeapSnapshot({ reportProgress: false });
  return chunks.join('');
}
```

### Sampling allocation profiler
```javascript
// V8 11+, ~512KB sample interval
const profiler = require('v8-profiler-next');
profiler.startSamplingHeapProfiler(512 * 1024, 64);
// ... workload ...
const profile = profiler.stopSamplingHeapProfiler();
fs.writeFileSync('alloc.heapprofile', JSON.stringify(profile));
```

### --inspect + automated diff
```bash
node --inspect=0.0.0.0:9229 server.js
# Connect Chrome DevTools → Memory → take snapshot
# Run load test → take 2nd snapshot
# Comparison view → filter "Delta > 0" + sort by Retained Size
```

### Constructor filter (find specific class instances)
```javascript
// In DevTools heap viewer
// class: SomeBigBuffer  → see all live instances + retainers
// Common pattern: a Map / Set holding stale references
```

### --max-old-space-size tuning
```bash
node --max-old-space-size=4096 --expose-gc app.js
# or for Chrome:
chrome --js-flags="--max-old-space-size=8192"
```

## 매 결정 기준

| 상황 | Approach |
|---|---|
| Production leak (live) | Sampling allocation profiler (low overhead) |
| Dev / staging deep dive | Full heap snapshot diff (3-snapshot technique) |
| Allocation hotspot | Allocation timeline |
| Specific class instances | Constructor filter |
| CI regression check | Programmatic `v8.getHeapSnapshot()` + threshold |

**기본값**: 매 3-snapshot technique (baseline → workload → after-gc → diff).

## 🔗 Graph
- 부모: [[V8 Engine]] · [[Chrome DevTools]]
- 변형: [[Node.js Heap Profiling]] · [[Electron V8 Memory Cage]]
- 응용: [[Memory Leak Detection]] · [[Performance Optimization]]
- Adjacent: [[Garbage Collection]] · [[V8 Heap Spaces]]

## 🤖 LLM 활용
**언제**: 매 leak 의 reproducibility 의 OK 의 case. 매 retainer chain 의 interpretation 의 LLM 의 강점.
**언제 X**: 매 production 의 large heap (> 4GB) 의 snapshot 의 capture 의 비용 (multi-second pause).

## ❌ 안티패턴
- **Snapshot before GC X**: 매 항상 `--expose-gc` + `global.gc()` 후 snapshot. 매 noise 의 reduction.
- **Single snapshot 의존**: 매 항상 diff. 매 absolute size 의 less informative.
- **Closures의 underestimate**: 매 arrow function 의 lexical scope 의 모든 outer var 의 retain.

## 🧪 검증 / 중복
- Verified (V8 docs, Chrome DevTools docs, Node.js v8 module).
- 신뢰도 A.

## 🕓 Changelog
| 날짜 | 변경 |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-08 | Phase 1 |
| 2026-05-10 | Manual cleanup — V8 heap snapshot / leak hunting workflow |
