Java Records: A Sophisticated Way to Build DTOs

When Java introduced records, I immediately thought: "Finally, a cleaner way to write DTOs!"

A record is a special kind of class designed to hold immutable data, no boilerplate, no setters, just the essentials.

With a single line, Java automatically gives you a constructor, getters, and even equals, hashCode, and toString.

Because records are immutable, you can't modify their fields, no setters allowed.

And that's a good thing: immutability makes data safer and easier to reason about, especially in concurrent systems.

For me, records are the most elegant way to express DTOs in Java (introduced in version 14 and made permanent in 16), concise, expressive, and intentional.