Java 9 to 17 features

Java is a popular programming language that is widely used for building a variety of applications, including web, mobile, and desktop applications. Over the years, the Java language has evolved and improved, with new versions being released regularly. In this article, we will take a look at some of the new features and enhancements that have been introduced in Java from version 9 to version 17.

Java 9 (released in 2017) introduced a number of new features, including the Java Platform Module System (JPMS), which provides a way to modularize and organize large applications. Java 9 also introduced the Java Shell (JShell), which is an interactive command-line tool for executing Java code snippets and evaluating expressions. In addition, Java 9 added support for private methods in interfaces, improved the performance of the garbage collector, and added a number of other enhancements and improvements.

Java 10 (released in 2018) introduced the local-variable type inference feature, which allows developers to use the var keyword to declare local variables. Java 10 also introduced the Optional.orElseThrow() method, which allows developers to specify a custom exception to be thrown if an Optional value is empty. In addition, Java 10 added support for parallel full garbage collection and introduced a number of other enhancements and improvements.

Java 11 (released in 2018) introduced the String class’s lines() method, which returns a Stream of lines extracted from a string. Java 11 also introduced the HttpClient class, which provides a modern and convenient way to send HTTP requests and receive responses. In addition, Java 11 added support for Unicode 10, introduced a number of enhancements to the garbage collector, and added a number of other improvements and features.

Java 12 (released in 2019) introduced the switch expression, which allows developers to use the switch statement as an expression and return a value from it. Java 12 also introduced the String class’s indent() method, which allows developers to add leading whitespace to a string. In addition, Java 12 added a number of other enhancements and improvements, including support for the Epsilon garbage collector and the ZGC low-

latency garbage collector.

Java 13 (released in 2019) introduced the Text Blocks feature, which allows developers to write multi-line string literals more conveniently. Java 13 also introduced the String class’s stripIndent() method, which removes leading whitespace from a string. In addition, Java 13 added a number of other enhancements and improvements, including support for Unicode 12 and the Shenandoah low-pause-time garbage collector.

Java 14 (released in 2020) introduced the record type, which allows developers to define lightweight data classes with minimal boilerplate code. Java 14 also introduced the pattern matching for instanceof feature, which allows developers to use the instanceof operator in combination with a pattern to extract values from objects. In addition, Java 14 added a number of other enhancements and improvements, including the ZGC garbage collector’s support for large page sizes and the JFR Event Streaming feature, which allows developers to stream Java Flight Recorder events to other applications in real-time.

Java 15 (released in 2020) introduced the sealed classes feature, which allows developers to specify which classes can extend a particular class and which interfaces they can implement. Java 15 also introduced the Hidden Classes feature, which allows developers to define and use classes that are not visible to the class loader. In addition, Java 15 added a number of other enhancements and improvements, including support for the C2 compiler on macOS, the G1 garbage collector’s support for the Compact String feature, and the Java Cryptography Architecture‘s (JCA) support for the Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) algorithm.

Java 17 (released in 2021) introduced the incubator modules feature, which allows developers to experiment with new APIs and features without committing to a long-term support plan. Java 17 also introduced the ZGC garbage collector’s support for heap partitions, which allows developers to divide the heap into multiple regions with different garbage collection policies. In addition, Java 17 introduced the foreign-memory access API, which allows developers to access and manipulate memory outside of the Java heap, and the record type’s support for a sealed or final modifier. Java 17 also added a number of other enhancements and improvements, including the sockets API‘s support for UDP multicast sockets, the Nashorn JavaScript engine’s deprecation, and the JavaFX module’s deprecation.

Overall, Java has seen a number of significant updates and improvements since the release of version 9. Whether you are an experienced Java developer or are just starting out with the language, there is something in these updates for everyone. If you are interested in learning more about the new features and enhancements in Java, be sure to check out the official Java documentation and the Java Blog.