Java 11 : Features and Improvements

Java 11, also known as JDK 11, was released on September 25th, 2018 as a long-term support (LTS) release of the Java Development Kit. It was the first LTS release since Java 8, which was released in 2014. Java 11 includes a number of new features, performance improvements, and security enhancements.

New Features in Java 11

Some of the new features introduced in Java 11 include:

1. Local-Variable Syntax for Lambda Parameters: This feature allows you to declare the type of a lambda expression’s parameter using the var keyword, similar to how you can declare the type of a local variable.
2. HTTP Client: A new HTTP client API was introduced in Java 11 that provides a modern, asynchronous, and reactive approach to sending HTTP requests and handling responses.
3. Launch Single-File Source-Code Programs: You can now run a single-file source-code program with the java command, without needing to first compile it to a class file.
4. Flight Recorder: Flight Recorder was previously only available in the Oracle JDK, but is now included in OpenJDK builds. It provides low-overhead data collection and profiling for troubleshooting and performance analysis.
5. ZGC: ZGC is a new experimental garbage collector that is designed for low-latency, scalable, and large-heap applications.

Performance Improvements in Java 11

Java 11 includes a number of performance improvements, including:

1. Epsilon Garbage Collector: This is a new experimental garbage collector that is designed to provide zero-overhead for applications that do not allocate any objects.
2. AOT Compiler: The Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compiler introduced in Java 9 has been improved in Java 11, providing faster startup times and reduced memory footprint for certain applications.
3. Dynamic Class-File Constants: This feature allows the JVM to cache frequently used constants in the constant pool, which can improve performance for certain applications.

Security Enhancements in Java 11

Java 11 includes several security enhancements, including:

1. Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3: TLS 1.3 is now supported in Java 11, providing improved security for network communication.
2. Root Certificates: Java 11 includes up-to-date root certificate authorities, ensuring that applications can securely communicate with trusted remote hosts.
3. Deprecation of Nashorn JavaScript Engine: The Nashorn JavaScript engine has been deprecated in Java 11, due to security concerns. Developers are encouraged to switch to an alternative JavaScript engine.

Conclusion

Java 11 / JDK 11 is a significant release that includes a number of new features, performance improvements, and security enhancements. It is an LTS release, which means that it will be supported for a longer period of time than non-LTS releases. Developers can take advantage of the new features and improvements in Java 11 to build better, more efficient, and more secure applications.