What are new in Java different versions

Categories: Java 9 Java 8(JDK1.8) Java

ava has evolved significantly over the years, with each version bringing new features, enhancements, and deprecations. Here's a concise overview of major changes introduced in different Java versions, from Java 8 to Java 21 (latest LTS as of 2025):

✅ Java 8 (March 2014) –  Below are new in Java 8

  • Lambda Expressions – Functional programming support.

  • Streams API – Efficient data processing pipelines.

  • Default and Static Methods in Interfaces
  • Optional Class – Avoid null.

  • Date and Time API (java.time)

  • Nashorn JavaScript Engine

✅ Java 9 (Sept 2017) - Below are new in Java 9Java Platform Module System (JPMS) – Modularization (module-info.java)


  • JShell – Interactive REPL

  • Enhanced Stream API – takeWhile, dropWhile

  • Private methods in interfaces

✅ Java 10 (March 2018) - Below are new in Java 10

  • Local Variable Type Inference (var)

  • Application Class-Data Sharing (AppCDS)
  • GC improvements – Parallel Full GC for G1

✅ Java 11 (Sept 2018) – LTS - Below are new in Java 11

  • New String Methods – isBlank(), lines(), etc.

  • Local var in Lambda
  • HTTP Client API (Standard)
  • Removed: Java EE, CORBA, etc.

  • Flight Recorder, JEP 328

✅ Java 12 (March 2019) - Below are new in Java 12

  • Switch Expressions (Preview)
  • Shenandoah GC (Experimental)
  • JVM Constants API

✅ Java 13 (Sept 2019) - Below are new in Java 13

  • Text Blocks (Preview) – Multiline strings

  • Dynamic CDS Archives

✅ Java 14 (March 2020) - Below are new in Java 14

  • Records (Preview) – Concise data classes

  • Pattern Matching for instanceof (Preview)
  • Helpful NullPointerExceptions

✅ Java 15 (Sept 2020) - Below are new in Java 15 

  • Text Blocks (Standard)

  • Sealed Classes (Preview)
  • ZGC as Production-Ready
  • Removal of Nashorn JavaScript Engine

✅ Java 16 (March 2021) - Below are new in Java 16

  • Records (Standard)

  • Pattern Matching for instanceof (Standard)

  • JEP 391 – Windows/AArch64 Port

✅ Java 17 (Sept 2021) – LTS - Below are new in Java 17

  • Sealed Classes (Standard)

  • Enhanced Pseudo-Random Number Generators
  • Foreign Function & Memory API (Incubator)
  • Pattern Matching for Switch (Preview)
  • Deprecations – Applet API, RMI Activation

✅ Java 18 (March 2022) - Below are new in Java 18

  • Simple Web Server API
  • UTF-8 as Default Charset
  • Code Snippets in Javadoc
  • Vector API (Incubator)

✅ Java 19 (Sept 2022) - Below are new in Java 19

  • Virtual Threads (Preview) – Lightweight concurrency

  • Structured Concurrency (Incubator)
  • Foreign Function & Memory API (Preview)

✅ Java 20 (March 2023) - Below are new in Java 20

  • Record Patterns (Preview)
  • Scoped Values (Incubator)
  • More Foreign Function & Memory API updates

✅ Java 21 (Sept 2023) – LTS - Below are new in Java 21

  • Virtual Threads – Standard

  • Pattern Matching for Switch – Standard

  • Record Patterns – Standard

  • Sequenced Collections
  • String Templates (Preview)
  • Unnamed Classes and Instance Main Methods (Preview)

Summary of Trends: Below are summary must learn for interview 

  • Java 8: Functional programming revolution.

  • Java 9–14: Modularization + groundwork for future features.

Java 15–21: Massive language simplification and performance improvements (e.g., Virtual Threads, Pattern Matching, Records).


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