Java 8
| Status | Long Term Support Release |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 2014-03-18 |
| EOL Date | 2026-11 |
| Latest Version | 8u452 |
| Class File Version | 52.0 |
| Unicode Version | 6.2.0 |
| API Changes | Compare to 7 - 6 - 5 - 1.4 - 1.3 - 1.2 - 1.1 - 1.0 |
| Documentation | Release Notes, Language Spec, VM Spec, JavaDoc |
| SCM | git |
Java 8 finally added lambda syntax and method references as a modern language
constructs. The main application within the JDK API is the new java.util.streams
package. An initial set of common functional interfaces is shipped in the new
package java.util.function.
The extremely useful Joda-Time library has been
integrated into the JDK as a new package java.time. Instead of the mostly deprecated
java.util.Date and java.util.Calendar classes we now have a modern and powerful API
for calculations with dates and times.
Also Oracle started to bundle JavaFX in its JDK distribution (which was removed again in Java 11).
New Features
Here are all new features in Java 8 by category. There is also of list of all features of all Java releases.
JVM
- Remove Permanent Generation (JEP 122)
Language
- Lambda Expressions (JSR 335)
- Default Methods in Interfaces (JSR 335)
- Effectively Final Variables (JSR 335)
- Type Use Annotations (JEP 104)
- Repeating Annotations (JEP 120)
API
- Streams (java.util.stream) (JEP 107)
- Lambda APIs (java.util.function) (JEP 109)
- Date Time (java.time) (JSR 310, JEP 150)
Should I Upgrade?
With Java 8 you're running on a actively maintained long term support (LTS) version - which is good. The currently planned end-of-life date for this version within the OpenJDK project is 2026-11.
However, you might consider upgrading to a newer LTS version Java 11, Java 17 or Java 21 to get advantage of the latest features and improvements.
Also you may upgrade to the latest non-LTS release Java 24 if you want to stay ahead and are prepared to upgrade regularly.
Downloads
| Vendor | Product | License | Platform Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoptium | Eclipse Temurin | GPLv2+CE | |
| AdoptOpenJDK | AdoptOpenJDK | GPLv2+CE | |
| Alibaba | Dragonwell 8 | GPLv2+CE | |
| Amazon | Corretto 8 | GPLv2+CE | |
| Azul Systems | Zulu Builds of OpenJDK 8 | GPLv2+CE | |
| Azul Systems | Azul Prime | Commercial |
|
| BellSoft | Liberica | GPLv2+CE | |
| IBM | IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8 | Commercial | |
| IBM | Semeru Runtime Open Edition, Version 8 | GPLv2+CE | |
| Oracle | Oracle JDK 8 | Commercial | |
| Red Hat | Red Hat build of OpenJDK 8 | GPLv2+CE |
Sandbox
Instantly compile and run Java 8 snippets without a local Java installation.