Garbage collection refers to the automatic memory management process in computer science where software automatically reclaims memory that is no longer being used by a program. This specialized skill is used by software developers to optimize performance and ensure that programs do not use up excessive amounts of memory. Garbage collection is a complex process that requires advanced knowledge of programming languages, operating systems, and memory management techniques. It is an essential skill for developers who work on large-scale programs and applications that require efficient memory management.