New features java 8
Java 8, released in 2014, introduced several new features that improved the language and its ecosystem. Here are some of the most notable ones:
- Lambda Expressions: Lambda expressions are a concise way to represent functions or methods. They can be used to simplify code and make it more expressive.
- Method References: Method references are a shorthand way to refer to methods. They can be used to simplify code and make it more readable.
- Functional Programming: Java 8 introduced functional programming concepts such as map, filter, and reduce, which can be used to process data in a more declarative way.
- Optional Class: The Optional class is a container that may or may not contain a non-null value. It can be used to handle null pointer exceptions in a more elegant way.
- Stream API: The Stream API is a new way to process data in Java. It allows you to create streams from collections, arrays, or other sources, and then perform operations on those streams.
- Date and Time API: The Date and Time API is a new way to work with dates and times in Java. It provides a more intuitive and flexible way to work with dates and times.
- Nashorn JavaScript Engine: Nashorn is a new JavaScript engine that is included with Java 8. It allows you to run JavaScript code in a Java environment.
- JavaFX: JavaFX is a new GUI library that is included with Java 8. It provides a more modern and flexible way to build graphical user interfaces.
- Type Annotations: Type annotations are a new way to add metadata to Java code. They can be used to provide additional information about the types of variables, method parameters, and return types.
- Repeatable Annotations: Repeatable annotations are a new way to define annotations that can be repeated multiple times on the same element.
- Method Hiding: Method hiding is a new feature that allows you to hide a method from a superclass. This can be useful when you want to provide a different implementation of a method in a subclass.
- Default Methods: Default methods are a new feature that allows you to add new methods to an interface. This can be useful when you want to provide a default implementation for a method in an interface.
- Functional Interfaces: Functional interfaces are a new way to define interfaces that can be used with lambda expressions. They must have only one abstract method.
- Local Variable Type Inference: Local variable type inference is a new feature that allows you to declare local variables without specifying their types. The type of the variable is inferred from the assignment.
- Multi-Catch Blocks: Multi-catch blocks are a new feature that allows you to catch multiple exceptions in a single catch block.
- Try-With-Resources: Try-with-resources is a new feature that allows you to use resources in a try block without having to manually close them.
- Improved Error Handling: Java 8 provides improved error handling features, including better support for checked exceptions and improved error messages.
- Improved Performance: Java 8 provides improved performance features, including better support for parallel processing and improved garbage collection.
These are just a few of the many new features and improvements that were introduced in Java 8.