Java / Java 21 Interview Questions
What is Java 21 and why is it a significant release?
Java 21, released in September 2023, is a Long-Term Support (LTS) release of the Java platform, making it the next major production-grade baseline after Java 17. It is the first LTS release to deliver Virtual Threads as a stable feature (Project Loom), Record Patterns, Pattern Matching for switch, and Sequenced Collections — all finalised and ready for production use.
The LTS designation means Oracle and other JDK vendors commit to extended support windows (typically 5–8 years depending on the vendor), making Java 21 the version most enterprises will target for migration from Java 11 or 17.
| JEP | Feature | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 444 | Virtual Threads | Concurrency (Loom) |
| 441 | Pattern Matching for switch | Language |
| 440 | Record Patterns | Language |
| 431 | Sequenced Collections | Core Libraries |
| 439 | Generational ZGC | GC |
| 445 | Unnamed Classes and Instance Main Methods (Preview) | Language |
| 453 | Structured Concurrency (Preview) | Concurrency |
| 446 | Scoped Values (Preview) | Concurrency |
Java 21 also continues the deprecation of thread primitives like Thread.stop(), and permanently removes the Security Manager, Applet API, and older RMI features that were deprecated in prior releases.
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