title: Why did the author use EntityUtils.consume(httpEntity);?
body: <p>I've come across <code>EntityUtils.consume(httpEntity);</code> and I'm not sure what it really does.</p>
  
  <p>For example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>try {
  
      //... some code
  
      HttpEntity httpEntity = httpResponse.getEntity();
      BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(http.Entity.getContent()));
      String line;
      while ((line = br.readLine())!= null) {
          System.out.println(line);
      }
      EntityUtils.consume(httpEntity);
  } catch (Exception e) {
      //code
  } finally { 
      httpClient.getConnectionManager().shutdown();
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why did the author put in <code>EntityUtils.consume(httpEntity);</code> when the <code>finally</code> block will close the connection and garbage collector will take care of <code>httpEntity</code>?</p>