Oracle has announced 12 new features for Java 24, the next version of the Java Development Kit (JDK), which is set to release in March 2025. The new features include compact headers, primitive types in patterns, and garbage collector enhancements, among others. Compact headers aim to reduce heap size, improve deployment density, and increase data locality by reducing object headers in the HotSpot VM from 96-128 bits to 64 bits on 64-bit architectures.

The release of Java 24 will also bring enhancements to the Shenandoah garbage collector, including experimental generational collection capabilities to improve sustainable throughput, load-spike resistance, and memory utilization. Additionally, the vector API will be re-incubated in Java 24, allowing developers to express vector communications that reliably compile at runtime to optimal vector instructions on supported CPU architectures.

Other notable features in Java 24 include linking runtime images without JMODs, scoped values, a key derivation function API, and stream gatherers. The release is designated as a non-long-term support (LTS) release, meaning it will receive only six months of Premier-level support from Oracle. Early access builds of Java 24 can be found at jdk.java.net.