Java 17 Features You Should Know

 Java 17, released in September 2021, is a Long-Term Support (LTS) version, meaning it will receive extended support and updates from Oracle—making it a critical release for enterprises and developers alike. With enhanced performance, improved language features, and cleaner syntax, Java 17 offers powerful capabilities that modern developers should not overlook. In this blog, we’ll explore the key features of Java 17 you should know.

 Sealed Classes (Standard Feature)

Introduced as a preview in Java 15 and finalized in Java 17, sealed classes allow developers to restrict which classes can extend or implement a given class or interface.

public sealed class Vehicle permits Car, Truck {}

This enhances code maintainability and security, making class hierarchies more predictable.

Pattern Matching for switch (Preview)

Java 17 introduces an enhanced pattern matching capability for the switch statement. It allows cleaner and more readable code when switching over types.

switch (obj) {

    case String s -> System.out.println("It's a string: " + s);

    case Integer i -> System.out.println("It's an integer: " + i);

    default -> System.out.println("Unknown type");

}

This improves type safety and conciseness, especially in complex logic scenarios.

Enhanced Pseudo-Random Number Generators

Java 17 introduces a new interface RandomGenerator and multiple new implementations, offering more flexibility and predictability in generating random numbers for simulations, games, and testing.

RandomGenerator rng = RandomGeneratorFactory.of("L64X128MixRandom").create();

int random = rng.nextInt();

This update provides more control over randomness and reproducibility in applications.

Removal of Deprecated Features

Java 17 removes outdated and previously deprecated features, such as:

The Applet API

Security Manager (deprecated for removal)

RMI Activation System

These removals help keep the language clean and improve performance and security.

5. Foreign Function & Memory API (Incubator)

Though still incubating, this feature allows Java programs to interact with native libraries more efficiently—replacing JNI with a safer and more performant API.

Conclusion

Java 17 brings both evolutionary and revolutionary changes that simplify development, improve readability, and enhance performance. With its LTS status, it’s a stable choice for production environments. Whether you’re maintaining legacy systems or building new apps, upgrading to Java 17 ensures you're working with the latest features, cleaner syntax, and a more secure platform.

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Read More:

Setting Up Your Java Development Environment

Java Syntax for Beginners

Working with Java Collections Framework

Exception Handling in Java

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