Oracle unveils Java 22: A feature-rich update to its widely-used programming language

Oracle has announced the release of Java 22 (JDK 22), the latest version of its widely-used programming language and development platform. This version is based on OpenJDK, the open source reference implementation of the Java SE Platform Edition. The Oracle JDK is commercially available under a subscription license, while the OpenJDK continues to be free under a GPL license.

The new release brings 12 significant enhancements, each warranting their own JDK Enhancement Proposals (JEPs). These include seven preview features and one incubator feature. Additionally, Java 22 provides numerous performance, stability, and security updates aimed at boosting developer productivity, fostering innovation, and encouraging growth within organizations. These updates span the Java language, its APIs and performance, as well as the tools included in the Java Development Kit (JDK).

JDK 22 includes language improvements from OpenJDK Project Amber such as Statements before super(…), Unnamed Variables & Patterns, String Templates, and Implicitly Declared Classes and Instance Main Methods. It also features enhancements from Project Panama, including the Foreign Function & Memory API and Vector API. Other additions relate to Project Loom, like Structured Concurrency and Scoped Values. The update also enhances core libraries and tools capabilities with the Class-File API, Launch Multi-File Source-Code Programs, and Stream Gatherers, and introduces performance updates like Region Pinning for G1.

As a Feature release, Oracle will provide support for JDK 22 for six months until the next Feature release. In comparison, LTS releases like JDK 21 have support for up to eight years. The upcoming LTS release, Java 25, is slated for September 2025.