What is the Difference Between Java5 and Java6?

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Java 5 and Java 6 are two versions of the Java programming language, with Java 6 being the current stable version and Java 5 being its previous version. Some of the key differences between Java 5 and Java 6 include:

  1. Release Date: Java 5, also known as J2SE 5.0 or J2SE 1.5, codenamed Tiger, was released in September 2004. Java 6, codenamed Mustang, was released in December 2006.
  2. Support: Java 5 has passed its lifetime and is no longer supported by Oracle Corporation.
  3. Language Features: Java 5 introduced major updates like language improvements, Annotations, Generics, and Autoboxing. Java 6 added more useful and significant features for the Java language, including additional types of annotations and APIs for processing annotations. While Java 5 focused on adding and improving language (syntax) features, Java 6 added a broad range of enhancements to the infrastructure in the field of resources.

In summary, Java 6 is the newer and more stable version of the Java programming language, with additional features and enhancements compared to Java 5. Java 5 has reached the end of its support lifecycle, making Java 6 the preferred choice for developers.

Comparative Table: Java5 vs Java6

Here is a table highlighting the differences between Java 5 and Java 6:

Feature Java 5 Java 6
AutoBoxing/Unboxing -- √
Annotations -- √
Enhanced for-each loop -- √
Generics -- √
varargs -- √
Static imports -- √

Java 6 introduced several new features and enhancements over Java 5. Some of the notable features include AutoBoxing/Unboxing, Annotations, Enhanced for-each loop, Generics, varargs, and Static imports.