Method and apparatus for freeing memory from an extensible markup language document object model tree active in an application cache

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to free memory from an XML DOM tree in a cache, said computer program product comprising:
• computer readable code configured to cause a computer to store one or more identifiers for each of one or more nodes in said XML DOM tree in a node table;
• computer readable code configured to cause a computer to scan said identifiers to locate a least recently used node;
• and
• computer readable code configured to cause a computer to remove said identifiers and said least recently used node, if said XML DOM tree occupies more memory then a threshold.

A garbage collector for freeing memory from an XML DOM tree in a cache, said garbage collector comprising:

• a threshold for a maximum amount of memory that may reside in said cache;
• a node table configured to store one or more identifiers which correspond to each of one or more nodes of said XML DOM tree;
• a scanner for examining said identifiers to locate a least recently used node;
• and
• a garbage collector for removing said identifiers and said least recently used node, if said XML DOM tree occupies more memory then said threshold.