How has SSL/TLS over HTTP changed in recent Java versions?

In recent versions of Java, particularly starting from Java 11, SSL/TLS over HTTP has seen significant improvements. These changes include enhanced security default settings, support for new protocols, and improved APIs that simplify the implementation of secure connections.

Java's built-in HTTP client, introduced in Java 11, offers better support for TLS, making it easier to handle secure requests and responses. The new client automatically negotiates the best available TLS protocol, streamlining the development process while ensuring secure communication.

Here is an example of how to use the new HTTP client with SSL/TLS:

import java.net.http.HttpClient; import java.net.http.HttpRequest; import java.net.http.HttpResponse; public class HttpClientExample { public static void main(String[] args) { HttpClient client = HttpClient.newBuilder() .version(HttpClient.Version.HTTP_2) .build(); HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder() .uri(URI.create("https://example.com")) .build(); client.sendAsync(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString()) .thenApply(HttpResponse::body) .thenAccept(System.out::println) .join(); } }

SSL TLS HTTP client Java 11 secure connections Java networking Java HTTP API