Versions of java
Java has evolved steadily—bringing modern
features, better performance, and stronger
tooling with every major version.
Java 8: Lambdas, Streams, New Date API
Java 11: HTTP Client, Performance, First modern LTS
Java 17: Sealed Classes, Modern syntax
Java 21: Virtual Threads, Structured Concurrency
Java 24: GC improvements, Post-quantum security, Stream
Gatherers
Java 8 (2014) – Game-changer
1. Lambda Expression which is an anaonymous
funtion.
2.Functional Interface: Interface with exactly
one abstract method.
3. Stream API: to process the collections in a
fucntional style.
4.New Date and Time API
5.Default and static methods
6.Optional class: to avoid null values and null
pointer exceptions
7.Collectors: to collect results into collections.
Java 11 (2018) – First LTS post
1. Compile free launch: run the code without
compilation
2. New string methods:
isBlank(),lines(),repeat(),stringLeading(),stripTraili
ng(),
3. var in a lambda expression and it can be used
to apply modifiers to local variables
4. Introduces toArray() method to convert a
collection into an array.
Arrayvalues=listValues.toArray(String[]::new).
5. some new methods in files class
a.readString(Path path, Charset cs)
b.writeString(Path path, Charset cs)
6.Http Client is a standerd which is recomended
to use instead of otherHTTP Client API's like
Apache Http Client API.
7. Optional enhancement: isEmpty() method
Java 17 (2021) – Stable & modern
1.Sealed classes: better control over class
hierarchies
2.Pattern Matching for instanceof
3. Records as a permanent feature
4.Strong Encapsulation by default.
5. New Garbage collectors:ZGC nad G1
enhancements
6. Contect-specific Deserialization filters
7. Foreign function & MemoryAPI
8. Vector API
Java 21 (2023) – Future-ready
1. Virtual threads: simplify high concurrency
apps
2. Record patterns
3. Sequenced collections- consistent data
ordering
4.String templates:cleaner string handling
5.Scoped values:to manage threads
6.Structured concurrency: better thread
management
7.Unnamed classes and Instance Main methods
Java 24 (2025) – Smart & secure
1. Stream Gatherers for flexible data
processing
2. Pattern Matching for primitives (Preview)
3.Compact Object Headers (smaller
memory footprint)
4.Simpler instance main() methods
5.Scoped Values – safer alternative to
ThreadLocal
