How do memory leaks occur in jQuery applications and how can you prevent them?

Memory leaks occur due to detached DOM nodes, unremoved event handlers, and closures holding references.

In jQuery, memory leaks commonly occur when elements are removed from the DOM but their event handlers remain bound. Closures can also retain references to DOM nodes, preventing garbage collection. Proper cleanup using .off(), .remove(), and avoiding circular references helps mitigate leaks.