What versions of Java are there to date, and how many? 2026 List

Without a doubt, Java stands out as one of the most popular programming languages ​​today, and it is even the primary language in which a large number of programmers worldwide have built their professional careers. Considering that, It has been with us for over 20 years..

It's worth noting that this truly modern language was conceived around the idea of ​​working on any device. Which is to say, a project developed by James Gosling's team, a renowned computer scientist who is the father of this programming language.

Given the remarkable importance Java has had since its inception, it is necessary to know what its particularities are. They distinguished this language from the rest from its beginnings And even learn which versions of it exist to this day. Therefore, we will detail all of this throughout the post.

What outstanding features distinguished Java from other programming languages ​​when it was released?

Given the great fame of this computer language, you're probably wondering What qualities does it exhibit compared to other programming languages? waths upso that so many programmers decide to develop their careers in this world of technology starting from it.

Therefore, we will now inform you The most important characteristics that the Java language has shown since its inception:

• It is a computer language with much more power JavaScript and all other existing languages ​​are better because they have a general purpose and, in effect, more varied applications can be created.
• It is entirely object-oriented. This means that both the data and the functions that process it are organized into structures called "lessons"Therefore, it will be necessary Create classes for programming with Java.
• Unlike some other computer languages, in Java it is necessary to have a development kit and a compiler.
• It has strong structures, meaning that It is a strongly typed languageTherefore, when declaring a variable in it, it will be mandatory to indicate its type, and thus, it will not be able to change from one type to another automatically.
• In Java, primitive data types They have identical sizes and behaviors on any platform. Whether Windows, Solaris, Unís, etc.).
• Regarding memory management in Java, it's worth noting that it's automatic. This means that... It is automatically assigned when an object is created. And, in that sense, a “garbage collector” is responsible for releasing it when there is no reference to the object in question.
• It is considered the most robust and safe, just like the most neutral, dynamic and simple with respect to JavaScript, C++ and Smalltalk, for example.

Timeline of all Java versions developed so far

Now, it's time to detail the versions of Java that exist to date, in order to specify How many are there and what are they?also knowing its most interesting characteristics.

Thus, we begin the list in chronological order, as follows:

Java version 1.0

Release date: January 23 of 1996

As its name suggests, this is the first version of the Java programming language. It was announced by the chief scientist of Sun Microsystems. John gage and the vice president of Netscape, Marc andreessenTaking into account that the latter person also reported that Java would be supported in Netscape browsers.

Main features:

• It contains the main classes, the virtual machine, and the AWT graphical API.
• Journalist Jorge Méndez was a great innovation for the world of technologySince it was from this point, experts provided a platform-independent language and a lightweight, free runtime environment for the most popular platforms.
• Thanks to this version, the main web browsers added, shortly afterwards, the ability to run Java applets that were embedded in the websites.

Java version 1.1

Release date: February 19, 1997

A year later, the second version of this programming language was released. It included substantial improvements and marked a significant leap forward in the language's global adoption.

Main features:

• It was based on incorporating several missing classes, such as: Readers/Writers, Calendars and Bundles.
• The biggest contribution in version 1.1, without a doubt, was the fact that add the JavaBeans standard and the JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) API for database connection. Which is considered a significant fact in computer science.
• Also shows an intensive restructuring of the AWT (Abstract Windowing Toolkit) event model.
• Includes in-house classes or “inner classes”.

Java version 1.2

Release date: December 08 of 1998

With another very important evolution, this new version of the programming language appears, which is known as “Java 2” and the name “J2SE”Taking into account that, from this point on, the following versions retained this name.

Main features:

• It showcased the arrival of Collections framework and the Swing APIThis allows for the development of much more complex window interfaces.
• It contains Java idl, which is an implementation of IDL or “Interface for Language Description” designed for interoperability with CORBA.
• For the first time, Sun's virtual machine was equipped with a compiler “Just in Time” (JIT).
• Other features: Java Plug-in, collections, the reserved word strictfp, etc.

Java version 1.3

Release date: May 08, 2000

Also recognized as “2SE 1.3”which brought significant improvements in the new millennium. It is now considered a mature platform.

Main features:

• JNDI support is added or “Java Naming and Directory Interface” in the core library package. Which, previously, was only available as an extension.
• In this version, the following is given: inclusion of the HotSpot JVM virtual machine with JIT compilation. Which was released in April 1999 for the J2SE 1.2 JVM.
• Here RMI was changed so that It will be based on CORBA.
• Contains JavaSound and Java Platform Debugger Architecture (JPDA).

Java version 1.4

Release date: February 06, 2002

It is distinguished from other versions by being the first release of the Java platform developed under the Java Community process as “JSR 59”. This version is also identified as “J2SE 1.4”.

Main features:

• Regarding the new APIs, there's a truly significant leap forward. It adds API I/O for reading and writing images in formats such as JPEG or PNG. Just like Logging API (Specified in JSR 47.).
• It also incorporates powerful support for XML and Regular Expressions.
• It features built-in security and cryptographic extensions, such as: JCE, JSSE, JAASIn addition to Java Web Start being included.

Java version 1.5

Release Date: September 30, 2004

Two years later, Java 5, or “J2SE 5.0,” was released; this version featured two significant leaps at the core language level. These included the inclusion of “Generic Types” and the concept of metadata with the use of annotations.

Main features:

• Thanks to the use of annotations in this version, it is possible label the classes or methods with additional dataWhich can be processed by metadata processing utilities later.
• A significant expansion is evident. Regarding API support that are geared towards concurrent programming.
• The reserved word “enum” create a Typesafe; an ordered list of values ​​(such as Day.MONDAY, Day.TUESDAY, etc.). This could previously only be done using integer constants or manually constructed classes.
• Sample an improved “for loop”Since the syntax has been extended with a special one for iterating over each member of an array or over any class that implements Iterable, such as the standard Collection class, for example.

Java version 1.6

Release date: December 11 of 2006

This 2006 version was developed under JSR 270 and it was in this version that Sun changed the name “J2SE” that had been established since version 1.2. “Java SE”As with the new versions, this one also showed significant changes and/or improvements.

Main features:

• Add the Mozilla Rhino enginewhich is an implementation of the also well-known JavaScript programming language in Java.
• It features excellent improvements in your performance and also in the graphical interface.
• It includes a complete web services client and also supports the latest web services specifications, such as: JAX-WS 2.0, JAXB 2.0, STAX and JAXP.
• Among its best advantages, it adds a novel framework and APIs that allow combining Java with dynamic languages (PHP, Python, Ruby and JavaScript).

Java version 1.7

Release date: It was in the early planning stages between 2006 and 2008. Its official release was in July 2011.

It is also called “Java SE 7” and Its code name is DolphinThis results in significant optimization of the virtual machine, given the inclusion of new garbage collectors. However, its language changes are quite limited.

Main features:

• You have XML support within their own language. Just like for closures.
• It presents the introduction of standard annotations for detect software faults.
• It handles a new concept of superpackage.
• It also adds: New API for handling Days and Dateswhich will replace the old Date and Calendar classes, Java Module System, Java Kernel and the ability to operate with BigDecimal classes using operands.

Java version 8

Release date: March 2014

Primarily, it is a version that features the Lambda expression support and use of streamswhich guarantees a much more functional style for Java programs.

Main features:

• It fully incorporated the library JavaFX within the Java JDK.
• It includes a notable improvement around security, concurrency, and JavaScript integrationThis is due to Project Nashorn's development of a JavaScript engine.
• Within its framework, a more functional approach also includes transformations MapReduce.

Java version 9

Release date: September 21, 2017

This is one of the newest versions of this programming language, which is also known as “Java SE 9”In this regard, it should be noted that, although its planned release date was July 09th of that same year, this was somewhat delayed due to some security issues located within the platform.

Main features:

• The “Project Jigsaw” can be found within this version of Java. What, establishes the modularization of the JDK.
• It offers full support for http 2.0.
• It is also notable for having “Java Shell”From which it will be possible to work and interact simultaneously in the style “Read–eval–print loop” or RELP.

Java version 10

Release date: March 20, 2018

One year after the previous version, Java SE 10 was released with the aim of guaranteeing extended support approximately every year and a half. This provided long-term support (LTS) and, consequently, companies have security in the applications they develop.

Main features:

• The Graal JIT compiler implemented in Java is added experimentally. on the Linux platform.
• This version includes several root certificates added to the keystore to enable TLS connections work by default.
• By establishing the added functionality in javacThe javah functionality was removed. Therefore, the latter was improved and replaced directly by javac.

Java version 11

Release date: September 25, 2018

Just six months after version 10, a new version of Java appeared, also known as “Java SE 11”Which, in that same year, was able to include several significant new features based on safety.

Main features:

• It provides an LTS version that large companies they will rely on it as the basis for all their developments.
• Supports Unicode 10 with 16018 new supported characters, 128 new emojis and 19 new symbols for the standard on 4K televisions.
• It is evident the removal of Java EE and CORBA modulesSince these were discouraged in previous versions, the package list now includes:
  • xml.ws (JAX-WS, plus the related technologies SAAJ and Web Services Metadata)
  • xml.bind (JAXB)
  • activation (JAF)
  • xml.ws.annotation (Common Annotations)
  • corba (CORBA)
  • transaction (JTA)
  • se.ee (Aggregator module for the six modules above)
  • xml.ws (Tools for JAX-WS)
  • xml.bind (Tools for JAXB).

Java version 12

Release date: March 19, 2019

To date, this is the latest version of the renowned computing language, and it naturally reveals certain improvements and benefits for the programmers and developers who use it. Taking into account that, Java SE 12 arrives with new features.

Main features:

• Switch Expressions (JEP 325); which was introduced in preview and extends the statement to be used as an expression. This simplifies daily code writing.
• Optimize the G1 garbage collector to automatically return a pool of Java memory to the operating system when it is idle.
• It includes an API for modeling nominal descriptions of key class files and runtime artifacts. From the constants API in the JVM.
• Improves the JDK compilation process, when producing a CDS file using the default class list on 64-bit platforms.