Oracle introduces Java 25 with long-term support

Oracle introduces Java 25 with updates that make the language easier for beginners and more powerful for advanced workloads.

Java is entering its fourth decade with a new release, Java 25. Oracle has made the version available with long-term support lasting at least eight years. The update delivers a broad set of improvements to performance, security, and ease of use, while continuing the steady six-month release cycle.

"As Java embarks on its fourth decade, it continues to deliver features to help ensure that applications, including those powered by and integrated with AI capabilities, will be highly efficient and scalable across hardware platforms,” Arnal Dayaratna, research vice president at IDC said.

He added that Oracle's stewardship "continues to lead the evolution of the Java programming language and platform, especially in relation to AI and security."

Java 25 introduces several language updates aimed at both seasoned developers and newcomers. Features like primitive types in patterns (JEP 507) expand how pattern matching, instanceof, and switch can be used. Module import declarations (JEP 511) reduce boilerplate by allowing simpler reuse of modular libraries. For beginners, compact source files and instance main methods (JEP 512) make it possible to write first programs with far less setup.

Georges Saab, senior vice president of the Oracle Java Platform, noted, "Java 25 highlights Oracle's ongoing investment in features and capabilities that power AI solutions and to simplify the language, making Java easier for new developers and IT teams to learn."

Libraries and security enhancements

The release also updates Java libraries with features that support multithreaded programming and data handling. Structured concurrency (JEP 505) and scoped values (JEP 506) simplify working with parallel tasks and immutable data, both important for AI workloads. The vector API (JEP 508) continues to evolve, helping applications make better use of CPU instructions for faster performance.

Security sees attention with a new PEM encoding API (JEP 470), which makes it easier to handle cryptographic keys and certificates, and a key derivation function API (JEP 510), which supports preparation for post-quantum encryption.

Performance improvements include compact object headers (JEP 519), which reduce memory use, and ahead-of-time profiling (JEPs 514, 515), which speed up application startup by preparing code in advance.

Monitoring gains from updates to the JDK Flight Recorder (JEPs 509, 518, 520), which now captures more accurate CPU-time profiles and method traces to help identify bottlenecks.

Looking ahead

Beyond Java 25, Oracle is putting focus on how the platform can support the next wave of development trends.

Bernard Traversat, Oracle's VP of software development, said the team is working on both language improvements and tooling to give developers a more productive environment. A big part of this effort involves making sure Java can benefit from generative AI tools that assist with coding and application design.

On the implementation side, Oracle is advancing projects like Valhalla, aimed at cutting resource use and improving runtime performance — a priority as modern data centres take on larger workloads. Traversat pointed out that power consumption has become a growing concern, and Oracle's goal is to get Java running as close to native runtime speed as possible while also reducing energy use.

The roadmap also looks at hybrid hardware systems that combine CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs. With projects such as Babylon, Oracle wants to ensure Java applications can run smoothly across this mix of processors.

"At the JVM level, we aim to optimize Java workloads across all available hardware," Traversat said, adding that the goal is to maintain a strong programming model while taking advantage of emerging architectures.

Community and support

The release reflects input from the wider Java community through OpenJDK and the Java Community Process. JavaOne 2026 will showcase these and other updates, continuing collaboration between Oracle and developers worldwide.

Adam Resnick, research manager at IDC said, "New features that simplify complexity and offer immediate feedback are making it easier to build beginner-level programs. Java's continued evolution reflects a thoughtful balance, broadening its accessibility to less experienced developers while preserving the robustness required for enterprise-grade solutions."

Java 25 is also supported on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, which offers the platform with added management tools and security options at no extra cost.