Hibernate framework version history

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Last Updated on 31 August 2024   |   Print  Email


Hibernate is a Java ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) framework that streamlines database operations by mapping Java objects to relational database tables. It eliminates the need for manual SQL coding, enabling developers to interact with databases through Java objects and methods. Hibernate also enhances application performance with features like caching, lazy loading, and robust transaction management. In addition, it supports Java Persistence API (JPA) and now Jakarta JPA.

This article helps you understand the history of Hibernate ORM in terms of version series and important changes in each version series. You’ll also know the required Java version and the JPA version supported.

The latest stable version of Hibernate ORM is 6.6 (released in August 2024), and version 7.0 is under development.

As of August 2024, the only active branch is 6.6, whereas the older series 5.x and 4.x reached end of life of have limited support.

 

Hibernate Framework Version History Overview

The Hibernate framework has gone through several versions since its inception. Here's a list of the major Hibernate versions up to the latest one:

 

 

Hibernate ORM Version Series

 

 

Release Time Range

 

Important changes

 

Hibernate 1.x

 

 

2002

 

Initial release of Hibernate, focused on basic ORM capabilities.

 

Hibernate 2.x

 

 

2003-2004

 

  • Improved mapping, caching, and query functionalities.
  • Introduced HQL (Hibernate Query Language).

 

Hibernate 3.x

 

 

2005-2008

 

  • Major overhaul with support for JPA (Java Persistence API).
  • Improved caching, annotations support, and integration with other frameworks.

 

Hibernate 4.x

 

 

2011-2015

 

  • Refactoring for better modularity and performance.
  • Dropped support for older JDK versions, focusing on JDK 6+.
  • Enhanced caching and introduced a new service registry.

 

 

 

Hibernate 5.x

 

 

 

 

 

2015-2023

 

 

 

  • Java 8 support with features like the new date/time API.
  • Integration with JPA 2.1.
  • Added support for new SQL features and improved bootstrapping.
  • Introduced native query enhancements and better schema management.

 

 

 

Hibernate 6.x

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022-Present

 

 

 

  • Significant overhaul with Java 11 support and beyond.
  • Enhanced multi-tenancy support and query engine.
  • Improved performance, particularly in query execution.
  • JPA 3.0 and Jakarta EE 9 compatibility.
  • Modernized API with additional features for cloud and microservices environments.
 

Hibernate ORM 4.x Series Version History

The following table lists the major releases of Hibernate ORM 4.x series, which require Java 6 or 7, and support JPA 2.0 or 2.1.



 

 

Hibernate ORM 4.x Versions

 

 

Release Time

 

 

Java

 

 

JPA

 

 

Important Changes

 

 

Hibernate 4.0.0

 

 

December 2011

 

  

 

Major refactoring and introduction of a new service registry.

 

 

Hibernate 4.1.0

 

 

March 2012

 

  

 

Improved support for caching and transactions.

 

 

Hibernate 4.2 series

 

 

Feb 2013 to Oct 2015

 

 

6+

 

 

2.0

 

 

Added support for JPA 2.0.

 

 

Hibernate 4.3 series

 

 

Apr 2013 to Aug 2015

 

 

6 or 7

 

 

2.1

 

 

Full support for JPA 2.1

 

 

Hibernate ORM 5.x Series Version History

The following table lists the major releases of Hibernate ORM 5.x series, which require Java 6, 7, 8, 11 or 17, and support JPA 2.1, JPA 2.2 and Jakarta JPA 3.0.

 

 

Hibernate ORM 5.x Versions

 

 

Release Time

 

 

Java

 

 

JPA

 

 

Important Changes

 

 

Hibernate 5.0 series

 

 

Mar 2015 to Jan 2017

 

 

 

 

6, 7 or 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

Improved bootstrapping, hibernate-java8, hibernate-spatial, Karaf support.

 

 

Hibernate 5.1 series

 

 

Feb 2016 to Nov 2018

 

 

Entity joins, load-by-multiple-ids, association traversal in AuditQuery.

 

 

Hibernate 5.2 series

 

 

June 2016 to Nov 2018

 

 

8

 

 

2.1

 

 

Java 8, JCache support, hibernate-entitymanager consolidation.

 

 

Hibernate 5.3 series

 

 

Jan 2018 to Feb 2024

 

 

 

 

8, 11 or 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

 

JPA 2.2, inheritance caching.

 

 

Hibernate 5.4 series

 

 

Nov 2018 to Dec 2021

 

 

EntityGraph improvements, JDK 11 support.

 

 

Hibernate 5.5 series

 

 

Apr 2021 to Dec 2021

 

 

8, 11 or 17

 

 

3.0

 

 

Introducing support for Jakarta JPA

 

 

Hibernate ORM 6.x Series Version History

The following table lists the major releases of Hibernate ORM 6.x series, which require Java 11, 17, 18, 20 or 21, and support Jakarta JPA 3.1.

 

 Hibernate ORM 6.x Versions

Release Time

Java

JPA

Important Changes

 

Hibernate 6.0 series

 

 

Dec 2018 to May 2022

 

 

 

 

11, 17 or 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1 and 3.0

 

Performance, HQL, Criteria, Type System.

 

Hibernate 6.1 series

 

 

June 2022 to Feb 2023

 

 

Subquery in FROM clause, JDBC Array support, Unified Mapping XSD.

 

 

Hibernate 6.2 series

 

 

Dec 2022 to Aug 2024

 

 

11, 17, 20 or 21

 

 

3.1

 

 

Jakarta Persistence 3.1, records, structs, value generation, partitioning, SQL MERGE.

 

 

Hibernate 6.3 series

 

 

Jul 2023 to Sept 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11, 17 or 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jakarta Persistence 3.1, query methods, finder methods.

 

 

Hibernate 6.4 series

 

 

Oct 2023 to Aug 2024

 

 

soft-delete, array functions, non-String tenant-id.

 

 

Hibernate 6.5 series

 

 

Mar 2024 to May 2024

 

 

Java Time Handling, Configurable Query Cache Layout, records as @IdClass, auto-enabled Filters, Key-based Pagination, Jakarta Data (tech preview).

 

 

Hibernate 6.6 series

 

 

Apr 2024 to Aug 2024

 

 

Jakarta Data, @ConcreteProxy, Extended Array Support, Embeddable Inheritance.

 

 

As you can see, multiple version series have been being developed in parallel. But the only active series now is Hibernate ORM 6.6.

 

Learn more about Hibernate framework:

 


About the Author:

is certified Java programmer (SCJP and SCWCD). He began programming with Java back in the days of Java 1.4 and has been passionate about it ever since. You can connect with him on Facebook and watch his Java videos on YouTube.



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