Java Evolution
Key Versions: 8, 11, 17, 19 & 21
Must-Know Features for Backend Developers & Interview Prep
Java 8 (2014)
**Lambdas & Functional Interfaces**
What: Introduced functional programming in Java by allowing functions as arguments.
Why: Reduces boilerplate code and makes APIs like Streams more powerful.
Runnable r = () -> [Link]("Hello Java 8");
Note: Behind the scenes, lambdas map to functional interfaces like Runnable, Callable, Supplier, etc.
Java 8 (2014) – Continued
**Streams API**
What: A new abstraction to process collections in a declarative way.
Why: Eliminates verbose loops, supports parallelism, and improves readability.
[Link](1,2,3,4)
.stream()
.filter(n -> n%2==0)
.map(n -> n*n)
.forEach([Link]::println);
Note: Streams are lazy; computations happen only when a terminal operation is invoked.
Java 8 (2014) – Continued
**Optional**
What: A container object to represent the presence or absence of a value.
Why: Helps prevent NullPointerExceptions by encouraging explicit handling of missing values.
Optional<String> name = [Link]("Java");
[Link]([Link]::println);
Note: Avoid overusing Optional in fields; it’s mainly for return values.
Java 8 (2014) – Continued
**Date/Time API & Default Methods**
What: New `[Link]` API replaced old Date/Calendar. Interfaces gained default/static methods.
Why: Date/Calendar were error-prone; default methods allow evolving APIs without breaking old code.
LocalDate today = [Link]();
interface MyInterface { default void log() { [Link]("log"); } }
Java 11 (2018, LTS)
**HttpClient API**
What: Modern replacement for HttpURLConnection.
Why: Provides synchronous & asynchronous requests, supporting HTTP/2.
HttpClient client = [Link]();
HttpRequest req = [Link]([Link]("[Link]
Java 11 (2018, LTS) – Continued
**New String Methods**
What: Added utility methods like isBlank(), lines(), repeat().
Why: Simplifies common string operations.
"hello".repeat(3); // hellohellohello
**Single-file execution**: Run a Java file directly without compiling separately.
java [Link]
Java 17 (2021, LTS)
**Sealed Classes**
What: Restricts inheritance so only specific classes can extend a type.
Why: Adds more control and safer APIs.
sealed interface Shape permits Circle, Square {}
Java 17 (2021, LTS) – Continued
**Pattern Matching**
What: Simplifies type checks and casts.
Why: Avoids verbose casting with instanceof.
if (obj instanceof String s) {
[Link]([Link]());
}
Also introduced preview: Pattern Matching for switch.
Java 19 (2022)
**Virtual Threads (preview, Project Loom)**
What: Lightweight threads that scale massively.
Why: Solves the issue of blocking I/O and improves concurrency.
[Link](() -> doTask());
Note: Each virtual thread is cheap compared to OS threads, enabling thousands of them.
Java 21 (2023, LTS)
**Virtual Threads (final)**
What: Virtual Threads graduated from preview to final feature.
Why: Game-changer for high-concurrency applications.
[Link](() -> [Link]("Hello"));
Java 21 (2023, LTS) – Continued
**String Templates & Record Patterns**
What: Safer string interpolation and pattern matching for records.
Why: Cleaner syntax, easier destructuring of data.
String msg = STR."Hello {name}";
if (p instanceof Point(int x, int y)) { ... }
Java 21 (2023, LTS) – Continued
**Sequenced Collections**
What: New interfaces to handle ordered collections consistently.
Why: Gives predictable behavior across List, Set, Map.
SequencedSet<String> s = new LinkedHashSet<>();
Java has evolved massively since Java
8!
■ For interviews, focus on Java 8, 11, 17, and 21. Java 19 is key for Virtual Threads.
