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:
-
✅ Lambda Expressions (functional programming)
-
✅ Streams API
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✅ Default Methods in Interfaces
-
✅
java.time
package (modern date/time API) -
✅ Optional<T> to reduce null checks
-
✅ 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)
-
✅ 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❌ Removed outdated modules: CORBA, Java EE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
-
✅ Switch Expressions – More powerful and expressive
-
✅ Text Blocks – Multiline strings with ease
-
✅ 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:
-
✅ Virtual Threads – Lightweight threads for high concurrency (Project Loom)
-
✅ Pattern Matching for
switch
(Finalized) -
✅ Structured Concurrency – Simplified thread orchestration
-
✅ Record Patterns – Pattern matching with records
-
✅ Sequenced Collections – Ordered collection APIs
-
✅ Scoped Values (Preview) – Better than thread-local
-
✅ 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!