Introduction

Yesterday, September 16, 2025, Oracle announced the availability of Java 25, the latest version of the world’s most popular programming language. This new release marks a milestone for Java, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, and reinforces its role as a key platform in the era of artificial intelligence and advanced security.

“Java 25 highlights Oracle’s ongoing investment in features and capabilities that power AI solutions and simplify the language, making Java easier for new developers and IT teams to learn” said Georges Saab, Senior Vice President of the Java Plathttps://www.oracle.com/es/java/form at Oracle and Chair of the OpenJDK Governing Board.

Keep reading and you’ll uncover the key innovations.

Why Java 25 Matters

Since its inception, Java has been a trusted language for large-scale enterprise applications. With 18 new JDK Enhancement Proposals (JEPs), Java 25 continues to prove the value of its six-month release cadence. The new version brings:

• Greater developer productivity, with cleaner, more concise code.

• Strengthened security, including readiness for quantum computing environments.

• Performance optimizations, enabling faster startup and lower resource consumption.

• Long-term support (LTS) for at least eight years, giving organizations flexibility to migrate at their own pace.

   

Key Highlights

A More Expressive and Accessible Language

• JEP 507: Primitive Types in Patterns and Switch – Expands pattern matching capabilities, especially useful for AI-driven applications.

• JEP 511: Module Import Declarations – Makes it easier to reuse modular libraries without complexity.

• JEP 512: Compact Source Files and Instance Main Methods – A long-awaited feature that allows beginners to write their first programs without the traditional public static void main(String[] args) boilerplate.

• JEP 513: Flexible Constructor Bodies – Improves safety by enabling validation and initialization before objects are exposed.

   

Concurrency and Modern Libraries

• JEP 505: Structured Concurrency (Fifth Preview) – Simplifies and secures multithreaded programming, crucial for AI projects.

• JEP 506: Scoped Values – A more efficient and understandable alternative to thread-local variables.

• JEP 508: Vector API (10th Incubator) – Improves performance for intensive computations, such as AI inference workloads.

   

Security Ready for the Future

• JEP 470: PEM Encodings of Cryptographic Objects – Simplifies integration with authentication systems and hardware security devices.

• JEP 510: Key Derivation Function API – Prepares Java for the post-quantum era, supporting algorithms that protect data against future cryptographic threats.

   

Performance and Observability

• JEP 519: Compact Object Headers – Reduces memory footprint and improves deployment density.

• JEP 514 & 515: Ahead-of-Time Optimizations – Faster application startup with pre-collected performance profiles.

• JEP 509, 518 & 520: JDK Flight Recorder Enhancements – Provide deeper insights into performance bottlenecks and code tracing.

   

A Language for Everyone

Java 25 is not only designed for enterprises. It also lowers the barrier for students and novice developers. Thanks to compact source files and simplified main methods, starting with Java has never been easier.

At the same time, seasoned developers benefit from powerful tools for building complex, scalable, and secure applications, with a clear focus on AI, advanced security, and distributed computing.

Long-Term Support

Oracle will provide security and performance updates for Java 25 until September 2028 under the No-Fee Terms and Conditions (NFTC). Extended updates will be available until at least September 2033, allowing organizations to plan migrations on their own terms.

Conclusion

Java 25 proves that, after 30 years, the language is more relevant than ever. With its balance between accessibility for beginners and robustness for enterprise, this new release secures Java’s place as a cornerstone of technological innovation in the age of artificial intelligence.