Java has come a long way since Java 8, and with each Long-Term Support (LTS) release, the language and platform have evolved significantly. Whether you're a developer, architect, or team lead, understanding the differences between Java LTS versions can help you choose the right version for your project.
In this blog post, we'll compare the major LTS versions: Java 8, 11, 17, and 21 — highlighting their key features, improvements, and what makes each version special.
☕ Java 8 (LTS) — March 2014
Major Features:
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✅ Lambda Expressions (functional programming)
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✅ Streams API
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✅ Default Methods in Interfaces
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✅
java.timepackage (modern date/time API) -
✅ Optional<T> to reduce null checks
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✅ CompletableFuture for async programming
🔍 Why it matters: Java 8 was a revolution — introducing functional-style programming and new APIs that changed how Java is written.
☕ Java 11 (LTS) — September 2018
Major Features:
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✅ Local-variable syntax for lambdas
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✅ New HTTP Client (supports HTTP/2)
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✅ New String methods:
isBlank(),lines(),repeat() -
✅ File I/O improvements:
readString(),writeString() -
✅ Single-file source-code launcher:
java Hello.java -
❌ Removed outdated modules: CORBA, Java EE
🔍 Why it matters: Java 11 brought performance gains and cleaner syntax, making it a solid upgrade target from Java 8.
☕ Java 17 (LTS) — September 2021
Major Features:
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✅ Sealed Classes – Control class inheritance
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✅ Pattern Matching for
instanceof -
✅ Records – Concise data classes
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✅ Switch Expressions – More powerful and expressive
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✅ Text Blocks – Multiline strings with ease
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✅ New Random Number Generators API
🔍 Why it matters: Java 17 improves readability, reduces boilerplate, and introduces more expressive language features.
☕ Java 21 (LTS) — September 2023
Major Features:
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✅ Virtual Threads – Lightweight threads for high concurrency (Project Loom)
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✅ Pattern Matching for
switch(Finalized) -
✅ Structured Concurrency – Simplified thread orchestration
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✅ Record Patterns – Pattern matching with records
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✅ Sequenced Collections – Ordered collection APIs
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✅ Scoped Values (Preview) – Better than thread-local
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✅ Simpler main methods with unnamed classes (Preview)
🔍 Why it matters: Java 21 is a game-changer for scalability and concurrency, especially in cloud-native and high-performance applications.
✨ Recommendation: For new projects, use Java 21. For existing Java 8 projects, consider upgrading to at least Java 17.
💬 Have you already upgraded to Java 17 or 21? Share your experience in the comments below!
