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Java 8 (LTS)

Brief Release Summary​

Java 8 was a revolutionary release that introduced functional programming capabilities to Java, making it one of the most significant updates in Java's history. It brought lambda expressions, streams, and the new date/time API, fundamentally changing how Java developers write code.

Release Date​

March 18, 2014

Key Features Released​

  • Lambda Expressions - Functional programming support with lambda expressions and method references
  • Stream API - Powerful stream processing for collections with functional-style operations
  • Date/Time API - New java.time package replacing the problematic java.util.Date and Calendar classes
  • Default Methods - Interface methods with default implementations
  • Optional Class - Better handling of null values
  • Nashorn JavaScript Engine - Embedded JavaScript engine
  • Parallel Arrays - Support for parallel operations on arrays
  • Type Annotations - Enhanced type annotations support
  • Compact Profiles - Smaller runtime profiles for embedded devices

References​