Java 22 introduces several important changes that improve developer experience, code safety, and performance. Here’s a quick overview of the most useful updates:

1. Record Patterns
Record Patterns simplify pattern matching with records. They enhance the readability and conciseness of code by allowing direct extraction of record components in a single statement.

if (person instanceof Person(String name, int age)) {
    // Use name and age directly
}

2. Virtual Threads
Virtual Threads, introduced as a preview feature, provide a lightweight concurrency model. They enable handling a high number of concurrent tasks more efficiently without the overhead of traditional threads.

try (var executor = Executors.newVirtualThreadPerTaskExecutor()) {
    executor.submit(() -> {
        // Concurrent task
    });
}

3. Foreign Function & Memory API (FFM API)

This API improves interaction with native code and memory management, making it easier and safer to work with native libraries and off-heap memory.

try (var allocator = MemorySegment.allocateNative(1024)) {
    // Work with native memory
}

Enhanced Switch Expressions

Switch expressions continue to evolve with improvements like more flexible patterns and clearer syntax, reducing boilerplate and enhancing code readability.

var result = switch (dayOfWeek) {
    case MONDAY, FRIDAY -> "Working day";
    case SATURDAY, SUNDAY -> "Weekend";
    default -> throw new IllegalStateException("Unexpected value: " + dayOfWeek);
};

Improvements to NullPointerException

Java 22 provides more detailed messages for NullPointerException, helping developers diagnose issues more effectively by pointing out the specific variable that was null.

String name = null;
System.out.println(name.length()); // Enhanced NPE message: "name.length()"

Java 22 brings valuable enhancements that streamline coding practices, improve concurrency, and offer better tools for native interactions.

Key Enhancements in Java 22