Java 1.8 features....

1. One of the main difference is introduction of static and default methods in interface. This will gradually obsolete  the use of abstract classes in java


reference ; http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/defaultmethods.html

example :

public interface HasFieldValue<T>
{
    T getFieldValue();

    static <T> String getFieldAsString( HasFieldValue<T> hasFieldValue )
    {
        return ( hasFieldValue != null ) ? hasFieldValue.getFieldValue().toString() : "";
    }

    static <R extends HasFieldValue<V>, V> R fromValue( R[] possibleResultValues, V fieldValue )
    {
        if ( fieldValue != null )
        {
            for ( R resultValue : possibleResultValues )
            {
                if ( resultValue.getFieldValue().toString().equals( fieldValue.toString() ) )
                {
                    return resultValue;
                }
            }
        }
       
    

    default Object getDefaultForEmptyField()
    {
        throw new IllegalArgumentException( "Field cannot be blank" );
    }
}

2. lamba expressions..