Choosing a version in 2026

Java 25 Course · lesson 15 of 16 · 3 min read

Where each LTS stands now, and what to do if you are still on 8 or 11.

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Key points

  • Java 25 is the current LTS and the right default for a new service.
  • 21 remains fully supported, so there is no emergency - plan the hop, do not rush it.
  • 17 is still supported but is now two LTS releases behind; start planning.
  • On 8 or 11, the jump to 17 is the hard one - modules and internal-API access are the real work.
  • Never target a non-LTS release for a production service; there is no patch stream behind it.

Start new work on the newest LTS; the painful migration is always 8/11 to 17, not LTS to LTS.

Upgrading from 21 to 25 Proving an upgrade was worth it

This is a reading copy. The full lesson — with the visual explainer, the interactive lab and a Run button for the code — lives in the Java 25 Course course, and every lesson in it is listed on the Java 25 Course contents page.