Java Evolution: From Java 8 to Java 25 - Complete Guide
Java has evolved significantly from Java 8 to Java 25. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the major changes. Java 8 (2014) Lambda Expressions List<String> names = Arrays.asList("Java", "Python"); names.forEach(name -> System.out.println(name)); Streams API List<String> filtered = names.stream() .filter(name -> name.startsWith("J")) .collect(Collectors.toList()); Optional Optional<String> name = Optional.of("Java"); name.ifPresent(System.out::println); Java 9 (2017) Modules module com.example { requires java.base; exports com.example.api; } Private Methods in Interfaces interface MyInterface { default void method() { helper(); } private void helper() { // Private method } } Java 11 (2018) String Methods String text = " Java "; text.strip(); // "Java" text.repeat(3); // " Java Java Java " HTTP Client HttpClient client = HttpClient.newHttpClient(); HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder() .uri(URI.create("https://api.example.com")) .build(); Java 17 (2021) Sealed Classes public sealed class Shape permits Circle, Rectangle { } public final class Circle extends Shape { } Pattern Matching if (obj instanceof String s) { System.out.println(s.length()); } Java 21 (2023) Virtual Threads Thread.ofVirtual().start(() -> { // Lightweight thread }); Pattern Matching for Switch String result = switch (value) { case Integer i -> "Integer: " + i; case String s -> "String: " + s; default -> "Unknown"; }; Java 25 (2025) Latest Features Enhanced pattern matching Improved performance Better memory management New API additions Migration Guide Update dependencies Test thoroughly Use new features gradually Monitor performance Update tooling Conclusion Java continues to evolve with: ...