Java 8 came with several features that make the code more efficient, flexible, and expressive. Among the most important ones are lambda expressions, method references, the Streams API and the Optional class. The lambda expressions, Streams API, Optional class and method references contribute to the impact of Java 8 on how the Java applications are built by making developers able to write cleaner, more expressive and more efficient code. In this blog, we are going to discuss the features of Java 8 and understand how they work.
What is Java 8?
The biggest upgrade from Java was made in Java 8 and released in 2014. It boasted new features with a more modern character meant to ease the practice of programming, boost performance and also deliver some tools for answering issues frequently found during development activities, bringing a gap close to that of traditional Java against modern paradigms with support to functional programming, in particular.
Lambda expressions, Streams API, Optional class and method references contribute new capabilities that have made Java 8 a long-time favourite in the Java community since it enables developers to make more scalable applications, solve complicated data manipulation tasks and eliminate boilerplates. Let’s Understand its features in-depth now.
Lambda Expressions
Lambda expressions help programmers write cleaner and more concise code as it simplifies the syntax required to implement functional interfaces. They support functional programming in Java and make it possible to write more straightforward and compact code.
Purpose: Lambdas can replace verbose anonymous inner classes, especially in scenarios where functionality is passed around.
Advantages
- It makes the code concise.
- This makes it easier to write functional-style programming.
Method References
Java 8 also introduces method references, where you can make lambda expressions more concise. Method references directly reference methods that will make your code readable without redundancy. You don’t need to declare a lambda expression when you call the methods using method references.
Use case: You will want to print, sum or filter data from collections when you are using method references.
Types:
- Static method references: This type is useful when you need to call methods that don’t depend on an instance.
- Instance method references: In a scenario where the operation has to depend on the existence of an object’s instance.
Advantages: Much better readability by removing all unnecessary lambda expressions Utterly ridiculous to follow and understand.
Streams API
The Streams API introduced new ways of working with the data in collections by enabling data processing in a streamlined, functional style. With streams, developers can filter, map and reduce data, all in fewer lines of code.
Purpose: Functional operations on a sequence of elements supporting efficient data transformations.
Key Operations:
Filter: To select specific elements based on conditions.
Map: Converts each element in the stream.
Collect: Aggregate data from the stream and release in other formats, such as lists or sets.
It supports parallel processing: With this, performance will actually improve for large data volumes.
Optional Class
The Optional class in Java 8 provides a much better way to handle nullable values, thus avoiding the notorious NullPointerException. You avoid null-checking code clutter and handle the potential null values carefully by wrapping values in an Optional object.
Purpose: Sum up a value that may or may not be present, helping developers deal with null values in a safer, more consistent manner.
Key Methods:
- isPresent(): Checks if a value is present in the Optional.
- ifPresent(): Executes an action if a value is present.
- orElse(): Returns a default value if no value is present.
Benefits
- It allows safe handling of null values, thus eliminating the possibility of errors.
- Readability improves with clear and consistent null checks.
Conclusion
Java 8 brought key improvements to the way developers write Java code: modern, efficient and more expressive. Whether you are using lambdas to write more concise code, method references for readability, streams for functional operations or Optional for safe null handling, all of these features are necessary for any Java programmer who wants to improve productivity and maintainability. As an aspiring Java programmer or student, you need to understand these features, and you can get help from the London School of Emerging Technology (LSET) to understand these teachings of Java and use them practically in the Java programming Course. LSET also provides you with an opportunity for an internship with this course.