Oracle has officially announced the launch of Java 24 on March 18, 2025, marking yet another significant milestone in the evolution of the venerable programming language. This release introduces 24 JDK Enhancement Proposals (JEPs) focused on maximizing developer productivity, enhancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and preparing for the challenges posed by quantum computing.
According to Georges Saab, senior vice president for the Oracle Java Platform, "Over the past 30 years, Java has provided developers with a comprehensive platform to build and deploy applications. With more than 20 new features encompassing everything from AI to post-quantum crypto capabilities, the Java 24 release equips developers with the tools needed to innovate and create applications at scale."
This release coincides with the JavaOne 2025 conference, held from March 18 to 20 in Redwood Shores, California, where many of Java's advancements will be showcased. Developers and business leaders alike are eager to see how these new features can accelerate application development.
Among the standout features of Java 24 is the introduction of the Stream Gatherers API, which enhances the existing Stream API by allowing developers to implement custom intermediate operations. This API, according to Donald Smith, vice president of Java Product Management at Oracle, enables more efficient data transformations, making code easier to read and maintain. "The Stream Gatherers feature provides developers with fine-grained control over how elements are grouped and processed within streams, allowing for more expressive and efficient coding practices," Smith noted.
Another pivotal addition is the Class-File API, which standardizes parsing, generating, and transforming class files. This API is intended to alleviate issues with older third-party frameworks, allowing for smoother implementations without depending on external developers to keep up with Java's frequent updates. "The Java Platform should implement this API to facilitate the adoption of new features quickly and effortlessly," said developers involved with its creation.
Significant performance enhancements have also been integrated, including the Ahead-of-Time Class Loading and Linking. This component is part of the wider Project Leyden, which sets out to improve startup times, thereby enhancing user experience. By preloading classes when the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) starts, developers can reduce the wait time associated with application launches.
Java 24 also takes noteworthy steps toward future-proofing its platform against the impending commonality of quantum computing technologies. Newly included security features comprise Quantum-Resistant Module-Lattice-Based Key Encapsulation Mechanism (ML-KEM) and the Quantum-Resistant Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm (ML-DSA). These specifications, both standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), position Java developers favorably as quantum cybersecurity becomes increasingly pressing. Smith remarked, "There is widespread industry consensus on the need for quantum-resistant algorithms, and these new implementations are timely as the threat of quantum computing becomes more pronounced."
Further augmentations focusing on AI integration are apparent with features such as the Primitive Types in Patterns and enhancements to the Vector API. These functionalities allow developers to use pattern matching more expressively and simplify the process of conducting vector computations, improving efficiency across AI use cases.
Java 25's anticipated release is set for September 2025, expected to be another Long-Term Support (LTS) version. Developers are urged to familiarize themselves with the new tools presented in Java 24 to prepare for this upcoming pivotal release. Commenting on the six-month cadence of Java releases, Saab noted, "We're getting wonderful feedback from developers about how they appreciate the quick feature updates, which helps keep pace with their needs without compromising stability for enterprise users, who rely on LTS versions for long-term support."
The features introduced within Java 24 are the result of collaborative efforts between Oracle and the global Java developer community through the OpenJDK and Java Community Process (JCP), showcasing the commitment to delivering valuable updates consistently. With the increasing complexity of modern applications demanding more flexibility and performance from programming languages, Java 24 appears set to maintain its prominence and relevance.
For more information on Java and the complete set of features released with Java 24, interested parties can refer to the Java documentation and materials showcased at JavaOne 2025.
