Java 10 is the latest version of the popular programming language, and it brings a lot of exciting new features and enhancements. These new features can help developers build better applications more quickly and with less effort. In this article, we'll explore some of the most significant new features of Java 10 and some of the use cases where they can be most helpful.

1. Local-variable type inference

One of the most significant new features of Java 10 is local-variable type inference. This feature allows developers to declare local variables without explicitly stating their type. Instead, the compiler can infer the type of the variable from the context in which it is used.

For example, instead of writing:

Map> numbers = new HashMap>();

You can now write:

var numbers = new HashMap>();

The variable "numbers" will be inferred to have the type "Map>". This can lead to code that is more concise and easier to read, especially in situations where the type of a variable is obvious from its initialization.

2. Collection factory methods

Another new feature of Java 10 is the addition of new factory methods to create immutable collections. These methods are included in the List, Set, and Map interfaces and allow developers to create new immutable collections in a more concise and readable way.

For example, instead of writing:

List names = new ArrayList<>();

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

names = Collections.unmodifiableList(names);

You can now write:

List names = List.of("Alice", "Bob", "Charlie");

This code creates an immutable List of strings containing the values "Alice", "Bob", and "Charlie". Similarly, you can create immutable Sets and Maps using the Set.of() and Map.of() methods.

3. Time-based version naming

Java 10 also introduces a new versioning scheme that uses time-based version names instead of the previous numbering system. Under the new system, Java releases will be named after the year and month of their release, with letters denoting updates released in the same month.

For example, the first release of Java in 2018 was named Java 10, released in March 2018. The first update released in the same month was named Java 10.0.1. The next release, in September 2018, was named Java 11.0.1.

4. Application class-data sharing

Java 10 also includes a new feature called Application Class-Data Sharing (CDS). This feature allows the JVM to load classes and metadata from a shared archive, rather than from individual class files, when an application starts up. This can help reduce the startup time of applications, especially those with large class libraries, by reducing the number of individual class files that need to be loaded.

5. Garbage collector interface

Java 10 also introduces a new interface for garbage collectors called the Garbage Collector Interface (GCI). This interface provides a standard way for garbage collectors to interface with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which can simplify the development of new garbage collectors and make it easier to test and evaluate different garbage collection algorithms.

Conclusion

Java 10 includes many exciting new features and enhancements that make it easier and more efficient for developers to build Java applications. Local-variable type inference and collection factory methods can help make code more concise and readable, while time-based version naming and application class-data sharing can help reduce startup time and memory usage. The Garbage Collector Interface is also a significant addition that can help improve the performance of Java applications. As Java continues to evolve, developers can look forward to even more powerful features and capabilities in future releases.