Overview
Release Coverage
This section provides comprehensive coverage of all Java releases from the last 5 years (2020-2025), including both LTS (Long-Term Support) and non-LTS releases. While LTS versions are highlighted for production use, non-LTS releases are documented to show feature evolution and preview stages.
Complete release coverage: Java 14, 15, 16, 17 LTS, 18, 19, 20, 21 LTS, 22, 23, and 25 LTS.
LTS Release Strategy
Oracle’s Long-Term Support (LTS) strategy provides predictable, stable Java versions for enterprise applications.
Primary LTS Releases
The three major LTS releases from the last 5 years:
- Java 17 LTS (September 2021) - Sealed classes, pattern matching preview, enhanced PRNG
- Java 21 LTS (September 2023) - Virtual threads, sequenced collections, pattern matching finalized
- Java 25 LTS (September 2025) - Stream gatherers, compact headers, performance optimizations
LTS Cadence
Oracle delivers LTS releases every 2 years (reduced from 3 years in 2023):
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timeline
title Java LTS Release Timeline
2018 : Java 11 LTS : First post-Java 8 LTS
2021 : Java 17 LTS : 3-year gap
2023 : Java 21 LTS : 2-year cadence begins
2025 : Java 25 LTS : 2-year cadence
2027 : Java 27 LTS (expected) : 2-year cadence
Why LTS Matters
Long-Term Support provides:
- 8+ years of security updates and bug fixes
- Stability for production applications
- Predictable upgrade cycles
- Enterprise-ready releases with extensive testing
- Ecosystem support from frameworks, libraries, and tools
Feature Evolution
Key features evolve across LTS releases:
| Feature | Java 17 (2021) | Java 21 (2023) | Java 25 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealed Classes | ✅ Finalized | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Pattern Matching | 🔬 Preview | ✅ Finalized | ✅ Enhanced |
| Virtual Threads | ❌ None | ✅ Finalized | ✅ Optimized |
| Sequenced Collections | ❌ None | ✅ Finalized | ✅ Available |
| Stream Gatherers | ❌ None | ❌ None | ✅ Finalized |
| Compact Headers | ❌ None | ❌ None | ✅ Finalized |
Legend:
- ✅ Finalized - Production-ready
- 🔬 Preview - Feature complete, requires
--enable-preview - ❌ None - Not available
Choosing Your LTS Version
For new projects in 2026:
- Start with Java 21 - Virtual threads essential for modern concurrency
- Consider Java 25 - If cutting-edge performance and latest features needed
For existing applications:
- Java 8/11 → Java 17 - Solid foundation, mature ecosystem
- Java 17 → Java 21 - Virtual threads unlock massive concurrency
- Java 21 → Java 25 - Performance optimization (20-40% gains)
Support Timeline
| Version | Release Date | Premier Support Until | Extended Support Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java 17 | Sep 2021 | Sep 2026 | Sep 2029 |
| Java 21 | Sep 2023 | Sep 2028 | Sep 2031 |
| Java 25 | Sep 2025 | Sep 2030 | Sep 2033 |
Note: Oracle provides 8 years of support (5 years premier + 3 years extended).
Non-LTS Releases
Non-LTS releases deliver features every 6 months, often in preview stages before finalizing in LTS versions:
2021: Java 16
2022: Java 18, Java 19 (Virtual Threads preview)
2023: Java 20
Why document non-LTS releases? Understanding feature evolution from preview to finalization helps developers anticipate LTS capabilities and make informed decisions.
Indonesian Translation Status
Indonesian (/id/) translations for release highlights are pending. English versions provide complete coverage of all releases from Java 14 to Java 25.
Next Steps
For production systems (LTS focus):
- Java 17 Highlights - Foundation features (sealed classes, pattern matching preview)
- Java 21 Highlights - Concurrency revolution (virtual threads)
- Java 25 Highlights - Performance optimization (compact headers, stream gatherers)
For comprehensive understanding (all releases):
Explore releases chronologically from Java 14 through Java 25 to see complete feature evolution and preview stages.