Java Development Kit (JDK) 18 release is still some months away, and the next upgrade Java 18 has already started to take shape, with the simple web server proposal and proposal for a re-incubation of a foreign function and memory API.

While Java 17 brought new interface types for PRNGs including jumpable PRNGs and implementations of an additional class of splittable PRNG algorithms (LXM); the new interface, dubbed RandomGenerator, offered a uniform API for all new and existing PRNGs.

The JDK Enhancement Proposal (JEP) index of Java technologies cites the record patterns and an array of proposals as expected for JDK 18, albeit, it has not been marked officially.

What to Expect in Java 18 and the Final Release date?



Java 18 is due for release in March 2022, and has already started to take shape, with proposals to preview record patterns and array patterns, incubate the vector API, and adopt UTF-8 as the default character set.



JDK 17 was a long-term support (LTS) release, which means it will receive at least eight years of support from Oracle, while JDK 18 is a short-term feature release that be supported for only six months. Below are some of the officially targeted JDK 18 proposals:

  • Foreign function and memory API: The intent is to replace JNI with a superior and pure Java development model
  • Code snippets in Java API: the introduction of @snippet tag for JavaDoc’s Standard to simplify the inclusion of example source code in API documentation
  • Preview of record patterns and array patterns: the Java language would be enhanced with record patterns to deconstruct record values, array patterns, and to deconstruct array values
  • Vector API: concerns vector computations that compile at run time to optimal vector instructions on supported CPUs, achieving performance superior to equivalent scalar computations
  • Simple web server proposal: a command-line tool that would be provided to start a minimal web server which serves static files only


If you're a developer and want an early-access to open source builds of JDK 18, you can get it at jdk.java.net. But note that JDK 18 is not due until March 2022, and it would be supported for only six months.

JDK 18: What to Expect in Java 18 and the Final Release date?

Java Development Kit (JDK) 18 release is still some months away, and the next upgrade Java 18 has already started to take shape, with the simple web server proposal and proposal for a re-incubation of a foreign function and memory API.

While Java 17 brought new interface types for PRNGs including jumpable PRNGs and implementations of an additional class of splittable PRNG algorithms (LXM); the new interface, dubbed RandomGenerator, offered a uniform API for all new and existing PRNGs.

The JDK Enhancement Proposal (JEP) index of Java technologies cites the record patterns and an array of proposals as expected for JDK 18, albeit, it has not been marked officially.

What to Expect in Java 18 and the Final Release date?



Java 18 is due for release in March 2022, and has already started to take shape, with proposals to preview record patterns and array patterns, incubate the vector API, and adopt UTF-8 as the default character set.



JDK 17 was a long-term support (LTS) release, which means it will receive at least eight years of support from Oracle, while JDK 18 is a short-term feature release that be supported for only six months. Below are some of the officially targeted JDK 18 proposals:

  • Foreign function and memory API: The intent is to replace JNI with a superior and pure Java development model
  • Code snippets in Java API: the introduction of @snippet tag for JavaDoc’s Standard to simplify the inclusion of example source code in API documentation
  • Preview of record patterns and array patterns: the Java language would be enhanced with record patterns to deconstruct record values, array patterns, and to deconstruct array values
  • Vector API: concerns vector computations that compile at run time to optimal vector instructions on supported CPUs, achieving performance superior to equivalent scalar computations
  • Simple web server proposal: a command-line tool that would be provided to start a minimal web server which serves static files only


If you're a developer and want an early-access to open source builds of JDK 18, you can get it at jdk.java.net. But note that JDK 18 is not due until March 2022, and it would be supported for only six months.

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