Last Updated on May 4th, 2024

Every Java developer attempts to reduce the boilerplate code whenever it is possible. Undoubtedly, the new JDK versions and even modern frameworks like Spring, Spring Boot have already contributed much to make it possible. In this matter, Records in Java 17 and Lombok library are also known to reduce boilerplate code.

Java 17 Records are a native language feature introduced in Java 17. Lombok is a third-party library that provides annotations to eliminate repetitive common tasks. In this detailed comparison ‘Record vs. Lombok’, we will explore the definition, syntax, usage, advantages, disadvantages, and practical examples of Java 17 Records and Lombok, and compare them based on various parameters.

Let’s start with what is Record and what is Lombok.

Record vs. Lombok: Purpose, Usage, Advantages and Disadvantages

Record

Like class, interface and enum, Records are just another type of class that are created for holding immutable data. They reduce boilerplate code by automatically providing implementations for the most commonly used methods, such as equals(), hashCode(), toString().

They can be the best convenient for creating entity, Data Transfer Object (DTO), and other model classes. They support deconstruction via pattern matching, making it easier to extract values from instances of the record.

Records are by default final. Hence we can not use them as parent class of any other class.

Advantages:

• Concise syntax, reduces boilerplate code and improves code readability.
• Automatic generation of methods. reduces developer effort and possibilities for errors.
• Immutable nature ensures data integrity and thread safety.

Disadvantages:

• Limited customization compared to traditional classes, as some methods like equals(), toString(), and hashCode() are auto-generated.

For complete details on Record, kindly visit Record in Java with Examples.

Lombok

Lombok is a third-party Java library that can be integrated with our editor and build tools. Lombok provides annotations, such as @Data, @Getter, @Setter, @ToString, @EqualsAndHashCode, and @NoArgsConstructor. Thease annotations automate the generation of codes in Java classes. Lombok reduces the redundancy of code and enhances developer productivity by eliminating the need to write repetitive boilerplate code manually.

Advantages:

• Lombok automates common tasks and reduces boilerplate code in Java classes.
• It improves code readability and maintainability by generating standard methods consistently.
• It provides flexibility with a range of annotations for different purposes. It also provides annotations for data modeling, logging, and error handling, which is something that Record doesn’t offer.

Disadvantages:

• Lombok requires adding third party library. It relies on community support for the library’s maintenance. If there are compatibility issues with newer Java versions or if the library becomes unsupported, it can lead to problems in our codebase.
• There is a possibility of limited customization compared to manually written code, as Lombok annotations generate standard methods without specific control.

For complete details on Lombok, kindly visit separate article on Lombok Annotations with Spring Boot.

Record vs. Lombok: Syntax Comparison

Record

Java 17 Record is a language feature introduced in Java 17 for declaring classes that is mainly used to store immutable data. It provides a concise syntax and automatically generate methods such as getters, hashCode, equals, and toString based on the components declared in the record.

Syntax Example:

public record Employee(String name, int age) {}

Once we create the above record, JVM internally defines three final fields (variables) and their getter methods in addition to the class-level methods such as toString(), hashCode(), and equals().

Practical Example:

public class RecordExample {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      Employee emp = new Employee("Sophia Doe", 30);
      System.out.println(emp.name()); // Output: Sophia Doe
      System.out.println(emp.age()); // Output: 30
   }
}

Note that there is no ‘get’ keyword with getter methods. We need to directly use the variable name as the method name. For example, instead of getName() as we use traditionally, we just use name() while calling Record methods.

We can not set the value of a property of Record once initialized. All the variables are final. This means Records are immutable.

Lombok

Lombok is a third-party library for Java that provides annotations to automate the generation of boilerplate code in Java classes. It eliminates common codes such as getters, setters, constructors, equals, hashCode, and toString methods.

Syntax Example (with Lombok annotations)

import lombok.Data;

@Data
public class Employee{
   private String name;
   private int age;
}

Practical Example:

public class LombokExample {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      Employee emp = new Employee();
      emp.setName("Sophia Doe");
      emp.setAge(30);
      System.out.println(emp.getName()); // Output: Sophia Doe
      System.out.println(emp.getAge()); // Output: 30
   }
}

Lombok’s @Data annotation generates a group of codes, such as:

• Getters for all fields
• Setters for all non-final fields
• equals() and hashCode()
• toString()

Record vs. Lombok: Constructors

Record

Implicit Constructor: Java Records automatically generate an implicit constructor based on the record components (fields). This constructor initializes all the fields. This type of constructor is known as a canonical constructor.

public record Employee(String name, int age) {
    // Implicit constructor provided by Java Records
}

Custom Constructors: We can define additional constructors in a record, but they must explicitly call the implicit constructor.

public record Employee(String name, int age) {
   public Employee(String name) {
      this(name, 0); // Calls the implicit constructor
   }
}

Immutable Initialization: Record fields are final, ensuring immutability. Once set during construction, their values cannot change. Constructors enforce this immutability.

Lombok 

Default Constructor: Lombok generates a default constructor (no-args constructor) for classes annotated with @Data.

import lombok.Data;

@Data
public class Employee{
   private String name;
   private int age;
}

Custom Constructors: Lombok allows us to create custom constructors using annotations like @AllArgsConstructor, @NoArgsConstructor, and @RequiredArgsConstructor.

import lombok.AllArgsConstructor;
import lombok.NoArgsConstructor;

@AllArgsConstructor
@NoArgsConstructor
public class Person {
    private String name;
    private int age;
}

Mutable Initialization: Lombok-generated constructors allow mutable initialization. We can modify field values after object creation.

Record vs. Lombok: Boilerplate Elemination

Record

public record Employee(Long id, String name, String department) {}

This single line automatically generates a constructor, getters, equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods.

Lombok

import lombok.Data;

@Data
public class Employee{
    private Long id;
    private String name;
    private String department;
}

Record vs. Lombok: Other Comparisons

Customization

• Records offer limited customization. We can’t selectively generate methods. It’s an all-or-nothing deal. However, this simplicity associates with the goal of immutability.
• Lombok provides various annotations (@Getter, @Setter, etc.) for refining code generation. We have control over which methods are generated.

Purpose and Use Cases

1. • Records are primarily designed for immutable data modeling and reduce boilerplate code in classes that store data.
   • Lombok is more versatile and can be used for a variety of tasks such as data modeling, logging, error handling, and more, by leveraging different annotations.

Immutability and Thread Safety

1. • Records are by default immutable. That means that all class attributes are declared implicitly as final. We can say they are like ValueObjects. They don’t have setter methods and all their values need to be passed in the constructor.
   • Lombok can do the same using the @Value annotation, but can also maintain the mutability using just the @Data annotation. Lombok does not impose immutability but can be used within immutable contexts with proper design practices.

Integration and Compatibility

1. • Java 17 Records are a native language feature introduced in Java 17, ensuring compatibility and integration with Java ecosystem tools and libraries.
   • Lombok requires adding a dependency to the project, which may introduce compatibility or versioning issues, although it offers support for various Java versions.

Ease of Adoption and Learning Curve

• • Records are relatively easier to adopt, especially for data-centric classes, due to their automatic code generation and reduced boilerplate.
  • Lombok requires understanding and usage of specific annotations, which may have a learning curve for developers new to the library.

FAQs

Which one is better to use in Record vs. Lombok?

It totally depends on the requirements your project. We can use Java records when we need a simple data carrier with a fixed set of fields and basic functionality like equality comparison, hashing, and string representation. They are especially useful in scenarios where immutability and structural equality are important, such as representing entities in a domain model or transferring data between layers of an application.

If our preference is simplicity and don’t want to add extra dependencies, Java 17 Record is a great choice.

On the other hand, Lombok is particularly helpful in projects where we have many entity/data classes or value objects that require common methods, but don’t need the additional features provided by Java records.

if you need more features and flexibility, Lombok might be a better fit.

Can we use Java Records with Lombok?

Yes, we can use Java records with Lombok. However, it’s important to note that using both may lead to redundant code generation, as Java records already provide automatic generation of common methods. In most cases, it’s recommended to choose either Java records or Lombok to avoid unnecessary complexity and potential conflicts in code generation.

Is there any performance difference on Record vs. Lombok?

No. In terms of performance, no significant differences are observed between using Java records and Lombok annotations. Both generate code that, once compiled, is no different from hand-written code in terms of performance characteristics. In both the cases, the generated code is optimized by the Java compiler, so there is negligible to no performance overhead at all.