Java in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference

Java in a Nutshell doesn't just help experienced Java programmers get the most out of versions through Java 25. It also provides a learning path for new developers. Chock-full of examples that demonstrate how to take complete advantage of modern Java APIs and development best practices, this thoroughly revised guide includes new material on recent enhancements to Java.

The first section provides a fast-paced, no-fluff introduction to the Java programming language and the chief runtime aspects of the Java platform. The second section explores core concepts and APIs and explains how to perform real programming work in the Java environment.

This updated 9th edition includes an entirely new chapter dedicated to Java 25's groundbreaking Compact Source Files and Instance Main Methods feature, which makes the language more accessible than ever for beginners. It also features an interactive Java sandbox for hands-on practice.

• Get up to speed on language details through Java 25, including the latest LTS release
• Master Java's new beginner-friendly features like Compact Source Files and Instance Main Methods
• Learn object-oriented programming using modern Java syntax
• Practice with the interactive Java sandbox to reinforce key concepts
• Explore generics, lambda expressions, sealed types, and records
• Understand techniques used in object-oriented design
• Examine memory and concurrency, including Java 25's virtual threads
• Work with Java collections and handle common data formats
• Become familiar with development tools in OpenJDK

Author: Benjamin J. Evans,Jason R. Clark,David Flanagan
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
Published: 10/06/2026
Pages: 535
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.57lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.09d
ISBN: 9798341669543

About the Author
Evans, Benjamin J.: - Ben Evans is a Java Champion and Senior Principal Software Engineer at IBM, where he is the Technical Lead for Observability for Red Hat Cloud Native Runtimes. Previously he was Lead Architect for Instrumentation at New Relic, and co-founded jClarity, a performance tools startup acquired by Microsoft.

He has also worked as Chief Architect for Listed Derivatives at Deutsche Bank and as Senior Technical Instructor for Morgan Stanley. He served for 6 years on the Java Community Process Executive Committee, helping define new Java standards.

Ben is the author of seven books, including "Optimizing Cloud Native Java", and the “The Well-Grounded Java Developer” and writes regularly for Oracle's Java Magazine and other industry publications.Clark, Jason R.: - Jason Clark is a Staff Engineer at GitHub where he's worked on everything from remote development environments to creating and deploying user apps. He was previously an Architect at New Relic enabling observability across the stack, and WebMD building .Net-based web services for the healthcare industry.

A regular conference speaker, Jason is co-author of two books, "The Well-Grounded Java Developer, Second Edition" with Ben Evans and Martijn Verburg, and "Java in a Nutshell, Eighth Edition" with Ben Evans.Flanagan, David: - David Flanagan is a computer programmer who spends most of his time writing about JavaScript and Java. His books with O'Reilly include Java in a Nutshell, Java Examples in a Nutshell, Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell, JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, and JavaScript Pocket Reference. David has a degree in computer science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He lives with his wife and children in the U.S. Pacific Northwest bewteen the cities of Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. David has a blog at www.davidflanagan.com.