Version-Wise list of Java features and syntax updates

byGaurav Dixit (Software Engineer) •
0

 Below is a version-wise list of Java features and syntax updates:

Java 1.0 (1996)

  • Initial Release
  • Key Features:
    • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
    • Platform Independence (Write Once, Run Anywhere)
    • Automatic Garbage Collection
    • Built-in support for Threads
    • Applet support

Java 1.1 (1997)

  • Key Features:
    • Inner Classes
    • JavaBeans
    • JDBC (Java Database Connectivity)
    • Reflection API
    • RMI (Remote Method Invocation)

Java 1.2 (1998)

  • Known as Java 2
  • Key Features:
    • Swing API
    • Collections Framework
    • JIT (Just-In-Time) Compiler
    • Java Plug-in
    • Improved Security Model

Java 1.3 (2000)

  • Key Features:
    • HotSpot JVM
    • RMI over IIOP
    • JavaSound API

Java 1.4 (2002)

  • Key Features:
    • Assert keyword
    • Regular Expressions (java.util.regex)
    • Exception Chaining
    • NIO (New Input/Output)
    • Logging API (java.util.logging)

Java 5 (2004)

  • Known as J2SE 5.0
  • Key Features:
    • Generics
    • Enhanced for-each loop
    • Autoboxing and Unboxing
    • Varargs (Variable-length arguments)
    • Static Import
    • Annotations
    • Enum
    • Concurrency utilities (java.util.concurrent)

Java 6 (2006)

  • Key Features:
    • Scripting API (JSR 223)
    • Compiler API
    • Pluggable annotations (APT)
    • JDBC 4.0
    • Web Services Support (JAX-WS)

Java 7 (2011)

  • Known as Project Coin
  • Key Features:
    • Strings in switch
    • Binary Literals
    • Underscores in Numeric Literals
    • Try-with-resources
    • Diamond Operator (<>)
    • NIO 2.0 (Files and Path API)
    • Fork/Join Framework
    • Improved exception handling (multi-catch)

Java 8 (2014)

  • Key Features:
    • Lambda Expressions
    • Streams API
    • Default and Static Methods in Interfaces
    • Optional Class
    • Date and Time API (java.time)
    • Nashorn JavaScript Engine
    • Method References
    • Functional Interfaces

Java 9 (2017)

  • Key Features:
    • Modular System (Project Jigsaw)
    • JShell (REPL)
    • Private Methods in Interfaces
    • Stream API Improvements
    • Process API Updates
    • Collection Factory Methods (List.of(), Set.of(), Map.of())
    • HTTP/2 Client

Java 10 (2018)

  • Key Features:
    • Local-Variable Type Inference (var)
    • Garbage Collector Interface
    • Application Class-Data Sharing

Java 11 (2018)

  • Key Features:
    • var in Lambda Parameters
    • HTTP Client API (Standardized)
    • String API Improvements (e.g., lines(), isBlank(), strip())
    • File Methods (readString(), writeString())
    • Nest-Based Access Control
    • Removed JavaFX from JDK

Java 12 (2019)

  • Key Features:
    • Switch Expressions (Preview)
    • JEP 189: Shenandoah GC
    • JVM Constants API
    • Compact Number Formatting

Java 13 (2019)

  • Key Features:
    • Text Blocks (Preview)
    • Reimplementation of Legacy Socket API
    • Switch Expressions (Second Preview)

Java 14 (2020)

  • Key Features:
    • Switch Expressions (Standardized)
    • Text Blocks (Standardized)
    • Records (Preview)
    • Pattern Matching for instanceof (Preview)
    • NullPointerException Enhancements (Helpful Messages)

Java 15 (2020)

  • Key Features:
    • Text Blocks (Finalized)
    • Sealed Classes (Preview)
    • Hidden Classes
    • ZGC Enhancements

Java 16 (2021)

  • Key Features:
    • Records (Finalized)
    • Pattern Matching for instanceof (Finalized)
    • Sealed Classes (Second Preview)
    • Unix-Domain Socket Channels
    • Stream.toList()

Java 17 (2021 - LTS)

  • Key Features:
    • Sealed Classes (Finalized)
    • Pattern Matching for switch (Preview)
    • New macOS Rendering Pipeline
    • Deprecation of Applet API
    • Strong encapsulation of JDK internals

Java 18 (2022)

  • Key Features:
    • Simple Web Server
    • UTF-8 by Default
    • JEP 420: Pattern Matching for switch (Second Preview)

Java 19 (2022)

  • Key Features:
    • Virtual Threads (Preview)
    • Structured Concurrency (Incubator)
    • Pattern Matching for switch (Third Preview)
    • Foreign Function and Memory API (Preview)

Java 20 (2023)

  • Key Features:
    • Virtual Threads (Second Preview)
    • Record Patterns (Preview)
    • Pattern Matching for switch (Fourth Preview)
    • Scoped Values (Incubator)

Java 21 (Released: September 19, 2023)

  • Key Features:
    • Record Patterns: Enhanced pattern matching for records, allowing more concise and readable code.
    • Virtual Threads: Introduced to significantly improve performance and scalability for concurrent applications.
    • String Templates (Preview): Simplified string concatenation and formatting.
    • Sequenced Collections: New interface to represent ordered collections.
    • Pattern Matching for switch: Extended pattern matching capabilities for the switch statement.

Java 22 (Released: March 19, 2024)

  • Key Features:
    • Scoped Values: Safer and more efficient way to manage thread-local data.
    • Structured Concurrency: Simplified parallel task handling with improved error handling and resource management.
    • String Templates: Graduated from preview, becoming a stable feature.

Java 23 (Released: September 17, 2024)

  • Key Features:
    • Record Patterns: Graduated from preview, becoming a stable feature.
    • Pattern Matching for switch: Further enhancements to pattern matching within switch statements.
    • Foreign Function & Memory API (Third Preview): Continued development of this API for interoperability with native code.
    • Vector API (Sixth Incubator): Ongoing development of the Vector API for optimized vector computations.

Note:

  • This is a summary of key features. Each release includes numerous other enhancements, bug fixes, and improvements.
  • Preview features may undergo changes or be removed in future releases.
  • For the most up-to-date and detailed information, refer to the official Oracle Java documentation.

This list captures major features version-wise. Let me know if you'd like examples or deeper details about any specific version or feature.

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