Java 8
| Status | Long Term Support Release |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 2014-03-18 |
| EOL Date | 2027-07 |
| Latest Version | 8u492 |
| Umbrella JSR | JSR 337 |
| 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 | JavaDoc, Language Spec, VM Spec, Tools, Release Notes |
| SCM | git |
| OpenJDK Updates | 2026-04-22 → 8u492 2026-01-21 → 8u482 2025-10-22 → 8u472 2025-07-16 → 8u462 2025-04-16 → 8u452 2025-01-22 → 8u442 2024-10-16 → 8u432 2024-07-24 → 8u422 2024-04-17 → 8u412 2024-01-17 → 8u402 2023-10-17 → 8u392 2023-07-21 → 8u382 2023-04-20 → 8u372 2023-01-18 → 8u362 2022-10-20 → 8u352 2022-08-01 → 8u345 2022-07-23 → 8u342 2022-04-22 → 8u332 2022-01-28 → 8u322 2021-11-18 → 8u312 2021-09-14 → 8u292 2021-09-14 → 8u302 2021-01-19 → 8u282 2020-11-05 → 8u275 2020-10-20 → 8u272 2020-07-27 → 8u265 2020-07-14 → 8u262 2020-04-14 → 8u252 2020-01-19 → 8u242 2019-10-15 → 8u232 2019-07-16 → 8u222 2019-04-16 → 8u212 |
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
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)
- TLS Server Name Indication (SNI) Extension (JEP 114)
- AEAD CipherSuites (JEP 115)
- Stronger Algorithms for Password-Based Encryption (JEP 121)
- Configurable Secure Random-Number Generation (JEP 123)
- Enhance the Certificate Revocation-Checking API (JEP 124)
- SHA-224 Message Digests (JEP 130)
- Overhaul JKS-JCEKS-PKCS12 Keystores (JEP 166)
- 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 2027-07.
However, you might consider upgrading to a newer LTS version Java 11, Java 17, Java 21 or Java 25 to get advantage of the latest features and improvements.
Also you may upgrade to the latest non-LTS release Java 26 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.