Rafael del Nero

Contributing Writer

Rafael del Nero is a Java Champion with over 15 years of software development experience. He mentors intermediate and senior Java developers, helping them sharpen their skills and advance their careers. He is the creator of the Java Challengers initiative and the author of Java Algorithms Interview Challenger, Java System Design Interview Challenger, Golden Lessons, and Java Challengers.

Articles by Rafael del Nero

Basic and advanced Java serialization

Learn how to serialize Java objects, ensure version compatibility, handle transient fields, use Java records with serialization, and more.

By Rafael del Nero

Mar 26, 2026 18 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

High-performance programming with Java streams

By Rafael del Nero

Dec 18, 2025 15 mins

APIs Java Programming Languages

Java Stream API tutorial: How to create and use Java streams

By Rafael del Nero

Nov 13, 2025 13 mins

APIs Java Programming Languages

Introduction to Java records: Simplified data-centric programming in Java

Record declarations are an efficient way to encapsulate data in your Java classes while reducing boilerplate code. Learn how they work in both basic and advanced programming scenarios.

By Rafael del Nero

Sep 25, 2025 10 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

Basic and advanced pattern matching in Java

Learn how to use pattern-matching features in your Java programs, including pattern matching with switch statements, when clauses, sealed classes, and a preview of primitive type pattern matching in Java 23.

By Rafael del Nero

Jul 31, 2025 14 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

What you need to know about Java wrapper classes

Since Java 21, wrapper classes have played an increasingly sophisticated role in Java’s type system. Here’s everything you need to know about updates for virtual threads, pattern matching, and more.

By Rafael del Nero

Jul 3, 2025 16 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

How to use method references in Java

Get a deep dive into using method references in your Java programs, including stream operations, event listeners, and constructors and factories.

By Rafael del Nero

May 22, 2025 17 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

How to handle type erasure in advanced Java generics

Type erasure in Java generics programming can cause a variety of problems in your code. Fortunately, there are ways to work around them.

By Rafael del Nero

Mar 6, 2025 16 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

Advanced programming with Java generics

Take your coding to the next level by learning advanced programming with generics. Here's how to use generic methods with type inference, type parameters, and wildcards in your Java programs.

By Rafael del Nero

Nov 21, 2024 18 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development

How to use generics in your Java programs

Generics make your code more flexible and easier to read, and they help you avoid ClassCastExceptions at runtime. Get started with this introduction to using generics with the Java Collections Framework.

By Rafael del Nero

Sep 26, 2024 15 mins

Java Programming Languages Software Development