How has VarHandle changed in recent Java versions?

VarHandle has undergone several improvements and enhancements in recent Java versions, particularly since Java 9. It allows for fine-grained access and manipulation of fields and array elements in a way that is both efficient and thread-safe. Key changes include the introduction of new methods, better performance, and enhanced support for various data types.

In Java 9, the core functionalities of VarHandle were introduced, providing support for atomic operations and allowing developers to access variables in a manner similar to how they would interact with fields in Java classes. Java 11 further expanded these capabilities by refining the API, making it more intuitive and powerful.

In Java 17, additional improvements have been made towards performance, making VarHandles faster than before, especially in concurrent environments. These changes have solidified VarHandle's role as a key component in concurrent programming within the Java platform.