Updated February 10, 2023
Introduction to Java 8 Documentation
Java 8 documentation provides an overview of the Java 8 version, which is a revolutionary release for the development platform. Java 8 is one of the releases of the Java Programming development platform. Java 8 is included with various features like productivity, improved polyglot programming, ease of usage, improved performance, and security. In this article, we shall see what Java 8 documentation is and how to create commands and the OpenJDK 8 with a few examples and takeaways.
Key Takeaways
- Java 8 documentation summarizes features and enhancements in Java JDK 8 and SE 8.
- Java Development Kit 8 is a superset of Java Runtime Environment 8, and has everything that is in JRE 8.
- It provides libraries, JVMs, and other related components to run the applets and applications in Java programming language.
- JRE includes components that are not required by Java SE specification, inclusive of standard and nonstandard components in Java.
- In Java 8, passing method as a parameter removes verbosity from code and hence increases reusability.
What is Java 8 Documentation?
Before getting into Java 8 documentation, one should know about various programming tasks such as Math Computations, String Manipulations, Database Access, File I/O, Datatransfer, Networking, 2D and 3D Graphics, Game Development, Graphical User Interface Building, etc.
Java documentation includes detailed online documentation, and one should have knowledge of a specific class, package or method does, to find available methods and parameters of the particular class and the exact syntax of the method.
Oracle drives the evolution of Java based on the response to the demands of enterprises and providing unparalleled expertise to developers with enhanced performance. Oracle has products that help to implement Java Platform Standard Edition 8 – Java SE 8.
Java SE Development Kit – JDK 8
Java SE Runtime Environment – JRE 8
JDK 8 is the superset of Java Runtime Environment 8 and has all the features available in JRE 8. Tools such as debuggers and compilers are needed for the development of applications and applets. Java Runtime Environment 8 provides libraries like Java Virtual Machine and various other components to run the applications and applets written using Java Programming language. JRE includes components that are not required by Java SE specs, inclusive of standard and non-standard Java components.
Concepts in Java 8 Documentation
Java 8 documentation summarizes the enhancements and features in Java JDK 8 and SE 8. Java programming language has been introduced with new features in Java 8.
- Java 8 has improved type inference and method parameter reflection.
- New language feature, Lambda expression, has been introduced. It enables to treat of functionality as a method argument or code as data.
- Type annotation provides the ability to apply annotation anywhere type is used, but not a declaration.
- With Java 8, there is performance improvement for HashMap with Key collisions.
- Classes in java.util.stream package provides Stream API in supporting functional style operations on a stream of elements.
- It has SSL or TLS Server name indication extension support in the server, with SHA 224 message digests, and supports Kerberos 5 protocol transition and constrained delegation.
- Print package provides public classes for JavaFX printing API. JavaFX is available for ARM platforms, and Java Development Kit for ARM includes the base, control components, and graphics of the JavaFX.
- javaman page has been reworked, and the command launches JavaFX applications.
- jarsignertool has the option for requesting signed time stamps from Time Stamping Authority
- javac tool provides the ability to generate native headers; it removes the need to run javahtool as a separate step in the build pipeline.
- javadoc tool supports the new DocTree API, which enables users to traverse Javadoc comments as the abstract syntax tree.
- Java Components like JDK mission control, Enterprise Performance Pack, Advanced Management Console, Java Management Service, Usage Tracker, GraalVM Enterprise, and Java SE Enterprise Installer.
- Java Compatibility guide for Java Development Kit 8 discusses 3 types of incompatibilities related to the release of the Java platform: Source, Binary, and Behavioural.
- Source compatibility is related to translating Java Source Code to class files. Binary compatibility is defined in Java Language Specification as a change to type that is binary compatible with pre-existing binaries that are previously linked without any error and will continue to be linked without error. Behavioral compatibility includes semantics of code that is executed at runtime.
OpenJDK 8 Documentation
OpenJDK is a free and open-source version of JDK for Java SE. Open Java Development Kit originated from efforts initiated by Sun Microsystems and is now sponsored and led by Oracle. It is available for free with General Public License.
| Package | Description |
| java.beans | It contains classes related to beans development; components are based on JavaBeans Architecture. |
| java.io | It provides system input and output through the data streams, file system, and serialization. |
| java.beans.beancontext | It provides interfaces and classes relating to bean context. |
| java.lang | It provides classes that are fundamental to the design of Java programming language. |
| java.lang.instrument | It provides services that allow Java language to instrument programs running on JVM. |
| java.lang.annotation | It provides library support for the Java programming annotation facility. |
| java.lang.management | It provides a management interface for the management and monitoring of JVM and its components in Java runtime. |
| java.lang.invoke | This package contains dynamic support provided by Java core libraries and VM. |
| java.lang.reflect | It provides interfaces and classes for obtaining reflective information on objects and classes. |
| java.lang.ref | It provides a reference object class that supports the limited degree of interaction with the garbage collectors. |
| java.net | It provides classes to implement network applications. |
| java.math | It provides classes to perform arbitrary precision integer and decimal arithmetic. |
| java.nio.channels | It defines channels that represent a connection to an entity which are capable of performing input-output operations and defines selectors, files, sockets, and nonblocking input-output operations. |
| java.nio | It defines buffers that are containers for data and provides an overview of other NIO packages. |
| java.nio.charset | It defines charsets, encoders, and decoders to translate between Unicode characters and bytes. |
| java.nio.channels.api | It is service provider class for java.nio.channels package. |
| java.nio.file | It defines classes and interfaces for JVM to access files, their attributes, and systems. |
| java.nio.charset.spi | It is a service provider class for java.nio.charset package. |
| java.nio.file.attribute | Its interface and class provide access to file and its system attributes. |
| java.security | It provides a class and interfaces for the security framework. |
| java.nio.file.spi | It is a service provider class for java.nio.file package. |
| java.security.acl | Interface and class in the package are superseded by class in java.security package. |
| java.security.interfaces | It provides interfaces to generate RSA keys as defined in RSA Lab and DSA keys as defined in FIPS 186. |
| java.security.cert | It provides interfaces and classes for managing and parsing certificates, CRLs (Certification Revocation List), and certification paths. |
| java.text | It provides an interface and class for handling dates, text, messages, and numbers in a manner independent of natural language. |
| java.security.spec | It provides an interface and class for key specification and algorithm parameter specification. |
| java.time | API for times, dates, durations, and instants. |
| java.text.spi | It is the service provider class for class in java.text package. |
We have listed a few JDK commands here; check this link, https://devdocs.io/openjdk~8/, for other JDK commands.
Conclusion
We have seen Java 8 documentation and its overview. I have discussed a few of the concepts involved in Java 8 documentation, and also listed out OpenJDK packages along with their description. I have listed out a few key takeaways from this concept of Java 8 documentation.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to Java 8 Documentation. Here we discuss the introduction, concepts, and OpenJDK 8 documentation. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
