Below are the new features of Java 21:
- Pattern Matching: Java could expand pattern matching to enhance the instanceof operator and switch statements, allowing for more concise and readable code.
- Records: Building upon the records introduced in Java 14, further enhancements might include more flexibility in inheritance and serialization.
- Value Types: Project Valhalla aims to introduce value types (like structs in C++) to improve performance and memory efficiency by reducing object overhead.
- Sealed Classes: Sealed classes restrict which other classes or interfaces may extend them, which can help in designing APIs and frameworks more effectively.
- Enhancements in Streams API: More operations and improvements to the Streams API could be introduced to simplify and parallelize data processing tasks.
- Improved Error Handling: Java might introduce enhancements in error handling mechanisms, possibly making exceptions more expressive or introducing new ways to handle errors.
- Enhancements in Java Virtual Machine (JVM): Updates to the JVM could bring better support for containers, improved startup times, and reduced memory footprint.
- Module System Improvements: Continued refinement of the module system introduced in Java 9 to better support modular applications.
- Native Image Compilation: Better integration with native image compilation tools (like GraalVM) to produce efficient, standalone binaries.
- Language Interoperability: Improvements to better integrate with other languages running on the JVM, such as Kotlin, Scala, and Groovy.