Java 8 is the latest release for Java that contains new features, enhancements and bug fixes to improve efficiency to develop and run Java programs. The new release of Java is first made available to developers to give adequate time for testing and certification before being made available on the java.com website for end users to download.

Auto-update Notice and End of Public Updates for Oracle JDK 7

Starting with the January 2015 Critical Patch Update release, users with the auto update feature enabled are being asked to update from Java 7 to Java 8. Also, please note the April 2015 CPU release will be the last Java 7 publicly available update. For more information, and details on how to receive longer term support for Java 7, please see the Oracle Java SE Support Roadmap.

Check with the app provider before upgrading to Java 8

Some application providers might require that you use a particular Java release and have not certified their applications with Java 8. If you experience problems running an application with Java 8, check with your application provider and confirm that it is certified with this version.

Features of Java 8

• Lambda Expression and Virtual Extension Methods
  Highlighting feature of Java SE 8 is the implementation of Lambda expressions and supporting features to the Java programming language and platform.
• Date and Time API
  This new API will allow developers to handle date and time in a more natural, cleaner and easier to understand way.
• Nashhorn JavaScript Engine
  A new lightweight, high performance implementation of JavaScript engine is integrated to JDk and is available to Java applications via existing APIs.
• Improved Security
  Replacing the existing hand-maintained list of caller sensitive methods with a mechanism that accurately identifies such methods and allows their callers to be discovered reliably.