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The Art of Java Language Pattern Matching

Project Amber within OpenJDK focuses on introducing smaller, productivity-oriented Java language features. One key area of innovation from Project Amber is pattern matching, which is now a powerful tool in modern Java development. Pattern matching allows code logic to test whether an expression has a specific type or structure, while extracting components of its state for further processing.

In this session, we will explore the new pattern matching features introduced in recent Java versions, defined by the following JDK Enhancement Proposals (JEPs):

• Pattern matching for instanceof (JEP 433)
• Pattern matching for switch (JEP 441)
• Record patterns (JEP 440)
• Unnamed patterns and variables (JEP 456)
• Primitive types in patterns, instanceof, and switch (JEP 455)

We’ll take a deep dive into how these features work, how they simplify Java code, and the flexibility they bring to pattern matching. Additionally, we’ll explore future features, such as array patterns, that may be included in upcoming Java releases.

By the end of the session, you’ll be fully equipped to apply these powerful new pattern matching features in your own Java projects.

Target Audience: This session is aimed at Java Developers who want to deepen their understanding of pattern matching and incorporate the latest language features into their coding practices. Software Architects may also benefit from learning how these features can simplify code design and improve maintainability. Back-end Engineers working with complex data structures and logic will find value in leveraging pattern matching for cleaner, more efficient code.