Java 11 Features: Explore the Key Enhancements and Updates in Java 11

Java 11, released in September 2018, was the first long-term support (LTS) release after Java 8, and it brought several practical enhancements that developers still rely on today.

Local-Variable Syntax for Lambda Parameters

Java 11 allows the var keyword to be used inside lambda expressions, letting you apply annotations to lambda parameters while keeping type inference.

(var x, var y) -> x.process(y)

New HTTP Client API

The java.net.http package became a standard part of the JDK, offering built-in support for HTTP/2, WebSocket, and asynchronous requests without needing a third-party library.

String Methods

Several convenience methods were added to the String class, including isBlank(), strip(), lines(), and repeat(int), making common text operations shorter to write.

Running Java Files Directly

Java 11 introduced the ability to run a single-file source-code program directly with java Hello.java, without a separate compilation step, which is great for quick scripts and demos.

Removal of Java EE and CORBA Modules

Modules that were part of Java EE (like JAX-WS and JAXB) and CORBA were removed from the JDK, reducing its footprint and pushing developers toward standalone libraries for those needs.

Flight Recorder

Java Flight Recorder, previously a commercial feature, was open-sourced and made available for low-overhead profiling and diagnostics in production environments.

Nest-Based Access Control

Java 11 introduced nestmates, which allow nested classes that logically belong together to access each other's private members without the compiler generating synthetic bridge methods.