What is the difference between a record and a class in Java?

What is the difference between a record and a class in Java?

I'd be happy to explain the difference between a record and a class in Java!

In Java, both records and classes are used to define custom data structures or objects. However, they have different purposes, usage patterns, and underlying implementations.

Records

Records were introduced in Java 14 as a new language feature. A record is a concise way to represent immutable data structures that contain only public fields and implement the equals method. Records are similar to classes with no behavior (no constructors, methods, or initialization logic). They are designed to provide a simpler alternative for creating immutable data carriers.

Here's why records are useful:

Example of a record:

public record Person(String name, int age) {}

Classes

On the other hand, classes are the traditional way to define custom objects in Java. They can contain constructors, methods, initialization logic, and more.

Here's why classes are useful:

Example of a class:

public class Person {
private String name;
private int age;
public Person(String name, int age) {
this.name = name;
this.age = age;
}
public void sayHello() {
System.out.println("Hello, my name is " + name);
}
}

Key differences

To summarize:

In general, use records when you need a simple, immutable data structure, and classes when you require more control over object creation, manipulation, or destruction.

What is a record in java 11 oracle

I'm happy to help!

A record is a new feature introduced in Java 14 (not Oracle, Oracle is a database vendor) that allows you to define lightweight objects with immutable properties. Records were added as a preview feature in Java 11 and became stable in Java 14.

Prior to records, if you wanted to create an immutable object with some properties, you would have to create a class with private fields and getter methods or use a library like Lombok to generate the boilerplate code for you. This could be error-prone and verbose.

With records, you can define a new type of object that automatically generates the necessary getter and setter methods for its properties, making it easy to create immutable objects. Records are meant to be used as a drop-in replacement for classes that don't require complex logic or behavior.

Here's an example of how you might use a record in Java:

public record Person(String name, int age) {
// No constructor needed!
}
Person person = new Person("John Doe", 30);
System.out.println(person.name());  // prints "John Doe"
System.out.println(person.age());   // prints 30

Notice that there's no need to define a constructor or getters and setters for the properties. The compiler will automatically generate them for you.

Records also support a few other features, such as:

Overall, records provide a convenient way to define lightweight, immutable objects in Java, making it easier to write robust and maintainable code.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.