When should you prefer records and when should you avoid it?

In Java, records are a new feature introduced in Java 14 as a preview and became a standard feature in Java 16. They provide a concise way to create data-carrying classes without the boilerplate code typically associated with Java classes. However, there are cases when you should prefer records and cases when you should avoid them.

When to Prefer Records:

• When creating data transfer objects (DTOs) where immutability is desired.
• When you want to reduce boilerplate code for simple classes that primarily hold data.
• When you require built-in implementations of methods like equals(), hashCode(), and toString().

When to Avoid Records:

• When you need mutable state; records are immutable by design.
• When you need to extend other classes or implement multiple interfaces that are incompatible with records.
• When you require additional behaviors or methods beyond just data storage, which may lead to more complex logic.

Example of Using a Record:

        // Java record example
        public record Person(String name, int age) {
            // No need to write constructors, equals, hashCode, or toString
        }

        // Usage
        public class Main {
            public static void main(String[] args) {
                Person person = new Person("Alice", 30);
                System.out.println(person);
            }
        }