When it comes to Java, few things spark more debate in developer interviews than “Which version do you prefer—Java 8 or Java 17?”
Both are milestone releases, but their features, performance, and interview relevance differ in key ways. Let’s break it down.
🔹 Java 8 – The Old Reliable
Released in 2014, Java 8 revolutionized coding style with:
Lambdas & Streams → Functional programming in Java
Optional Class → Handling nulls more gracefully
Date & Time API (java.time) → Finally, a modern replacement for Date
For many companies, Java 8 is still in production, so interviews often test candidates on these fundamentals.
🔹 Java 17 – The Modern Powerhouse
Fast forward to 2021, and we get Java 17, a long-term support (LTS) release packed with improvements:
Sealed Classes → Better inheritance control
Pattern Matching → Cleaner and safer type checks
Text Blocks → Simplified multi-line strings
New Garbage Collectors → ZGC & G1 for performance boosts
Security & Performance → Stronger out of the box
🔹 Which One Should You Learn?
If you’re preparing for interviews → Master Java 8 + Java 17 differences. Interviewers love to test migration knowledge.
If you’re working on modern projects → Go for Java 17. It’s faster, more secure, and future-proof.
🔹 Side-by-Side Quick View
Feature Java 8 Java 17
Lambdas & Streams ✅ Introduced ✅ Still relevant
Optional Class ✅ Introduced ✅ Used more widely
Sealed Classes ❌ Not available ✅ New in Java 17
Pattern Matching ❌ Not available ✅ Simplifies code
Garbage Collectors Old GC ZGC, G1 improvements
🔹 Read the Full Comparison
I’ve written a detailed, interview-focused breakdown of Java 8 vs Java 17 here 👉
🔗 Java 8 vs Java SE 17 – Interview Perspective
🔹 Final Thoughts
Java 8 → Still important, especially in interviews.
Java 17 → Future-ready, packed with features, and here to stay.
If you’re serious about Java interviews or upgrading your skills, understanding both is non-negotiable.
✍️ Originally published via AnalogyAndMe.com
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