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Java 21 Features [LTS]​

Java 21 was released on 19-Sep-2023, as the next long-term support (LTS) release of Oracle’s standard Java implementation. Java 21 includes the following 15 features:

  • JEP-430: String Templates (Preview)
  • JEP-431: Sequenced Collections
  • JEP-439: Generational ZGC
  • JEP-440: Record Patterns
  • JEP-441: Pattern Matching for switch
  • JEP-442: Foreign Function & Memory API (Third Preview)
  • JEP-443: Unnamed Patterns and Variables (Preview)
  • JEP-444: Virtual Threads
  • JEP-445: Unnamed Classes and Instance Main Methods (Preview)
  • JEP-446: Scoped Values (Preview)
  • JEP-448: Vector API (Sixth Incubator)
  • JEP-449: Deprecate the Windows 32-bit x86 Port for Removal
  • JEP-451: Prepare to Disallow the Dynamic Loading of Agents
  • JEP-452: Key Encapsulation Mechanism API
  • JEP-453: Structured Concurrency (Preview)

Java 20 Features​

Java 20 was released on March 21, 2023. The main feature in this release is Scoped Values, which is intended to replace thread-local variables.

  • JEP-429: Scoped Values (Incubator)
  • JEP-432: Record Patterns (Second Preview)
  • JEP-433: Pattern Matching for switch (Fourth Preview)
  • JEP-434: Foreign Function & Memory API (Second Preview)
  • JEP-436: Virtual Threads (Second Preview)
  • JEP-437: Structured Concurrency (Second Incubator)
  • JEP-438: Vector API (Fifth Incubator)

Java 19 Features​

Java 19 was released on September 20, 2022.

  • JEP-405: Record Patterns (Preview)
  • JEP-422: Linux/RISC-V Port
  • JEP-424: Foreign Function & Memory API (Preview)
  • JEP-425: Virtual Threads (Preview)
  • JEP-426: Vector API (Fourth Incubator)
  • JEP-427: Pattern Matching for switch (Third Preview)
  • JEP-428: Structured Concurrency (Incubator)

Java 18 Features​

Java 18 GA was released on 22 March 2022. It includes nine new developer features.

  • JEP-400: UTF-8 by Default
  • JEP-408: Simple Web Server
  • JEP-413: Code Snippets in Java API Documentation
  • JEP-416: Reimplement Core Reflection with Method Handles
  • JEP-417: Vector API (Third Incubator)
  • JEP-418: Internet-Address Resolution SPI
  • JEP-419: Foreign Function & Memory API (Second Incubator)
  • JEP-420: Pattern Matching for switch (Second Preview)
  • JEP-421: Deprecate Finalization for Removal

Java 17 Features [LTS]​

Java 17 was released on September 14, 2021. It is an LTS (Long Term Support) release.

  • JEP-306: Restore Always-Strict Floating-Point Semantics
  • JEP-356: Enhanced Pseudo-Random Number Generators
  • JEP-391: macOS/AArch64 Port
  • JEP-409: Sealed Classes
  • JEP-410: Remove the Experimental AOT and JIT Compiler
  • JEP-412: Foreign Function & Memory API (Incubator)

Java 16 Features​

Java 16 was released on 16 March 2021.

  • JEP-394: Pattern Matching for instanceof
  • JEP-395: Records
  • JEP-396: Strongly Encapsulate JDK Internals by Default
  • JEP-397: Sealed Classes (Second Preview)

Java 15 Features​

Java 15 was released on 15-Sep-2020.

  • JEP-360: Sealed Classes and Interfaces (Preview)
  • JEP-339: EdDSA Algorithm
  • JEP-371: Hidden Classes

Java 14 Features​

Java 14 was released on March 17, 2020.

  • JEP-305: Pattern Matching for instanceof (Preview)
  • JEP-359: Records (Preview)
  • JEP-361: Switch Expressions (Standard)
  • JEP 368: Text Blocks (Second Preview)
  • JEP 358: Helpful NullPointerExceptions
  • JEP 343: Packaging Tool (Incubator)
  • JEP 345: NUMA-Aware Memory Allocation for G1
  • JEP 349: JFR Event Streaming
  • JEP 352: Non-Volatile Mapped Byte Buffers
  • JEP 363: Remove the Concurrent Mark Sweep (CMS) Garbage Collector
  • JEP 367: Remove the Pack200 Tools and API
  • JEP 370: Foreign-Memory Access API (Incubator)

Java 13 Features​

Java 13 was released on September 17, 2019.

  • JEP-355: Text Blocks (Preview)
  • JEP-354: Switch Expressions Enhancements (Preview)
  • JEP 353: Reimplement the Legacy Socket API
  • JEP 350: Dynamic CDS Archive
  • JEP 351: ZGC: Uncommit Unused Memory
  • FileSystems.newFileSystem() Method
  • DOM and SAX Factories with Namespace Support

Java 12 Features​

Java 12 was released on March 19, 2019.

  • Collectors.teeing() in Stream API
  • Switch Expressions (Preview)
  • Files.mismatch(Path, Path)
  • Compact Number Formatting
  • Support for Unicode 11
  • Switch Expressions (Preview)

Java 11 Features [LTS]​

Java 11 was released on September 2018.

  • HTTP Client API
  • Launch Single-File Programs Without Compilation
  • String API Changes
  • Collection.toArray(IntFunction)
  • Files.readString() and Files.writeString()
  • Optional.isEmpty()

Java 10 Features​

Java 10 came quickly after Java 9 and introduced a few important updates.

  • JEP-286: Local Variable Type Inference
  • JEP-322: Time-Based Release Versioning
  • JEP 304: Garbage-Collector Interface
  • JEP 307: Parallel Full GC for G1
  • JEP 316: Heap Allocation on Alternative Memory Devices
  • JEP 296: Consolidate the JDK Forest into a Single Repository
  • JEP 310: Application Class-Data Sharing
  • JEP 314: Additional Unicode Language-Tag Extensions
  • JEP 319: Root Certificates
  • JEP 317: Experimental Java-Based JIT Compiler
  • JEP 312: Thread-Local Handshakes
  • JEP 313: Remove the Native-Header Generation Tool
  • New Added APIs and Options
  • Removed APIs and Options

Java 9 Features​

Java 9 was released in September 2017. The biggest change was modularization.

  • Java platform module system
  • Interface Private Methods
  • JShell – REPL Tool
  • HTTP 2 Client
  • Platform and JVM Logging
  • Process API Updates
  • Collection API Updates
  • Improvements in Stream API
  • Multi-Release JAR Files
  • @Deprecated Tag Changes
  • Stack Walking
  • Java Docs Updates
  • Miscellaneous Other Features

Java 8 Features​

Java 8 was released on March 18, 2014.