Google is adding a new service that manages unused apps to enter a state of “hibernation” and allows storage to be optimized according to Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and XDA Developers.

A todo referenced in the code tells us that the next step will be to support package-level hibernation that will affect all users, although it’s unclear how that will differ. It’s possible that all of the app’s data will be cleared and/or that the app itself will effectively be removed from the device, to be reinstalled when the user turns off hibernation.

Android Open Source Project (AOSP)

Source: Android Open Source Project (AOSP), XDA Developers