Introduction to Java NIO

The NIO ("New I/O") package1 was introduced in Java 1.4 to get round certain limitations of the original Java I/O package. The main features of NIO are:

Since Java 7, the NIO API has been complemented with the NIO2 API. This plugs certain gaps in Java's I/O handling such as dealing properly with file attributes and symbolic links. It also provides simpler API calls for performing certain common operations such as reading and writing data to file. See the Files class for more information.


1. You're possibly wondering how to pronounce NIO. All I can tell you is that I've heard Sun employees pronounce it both en-eye-oh and nigh-oh, and I've heard other colleagues pronounce it nee-oh. Pick the one you prefer.


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