Functional programming in Java represents a paradigm shift introduced with Java 8, enhancing the language’s capabilities beyond its traditional object-oriented roots. This approach treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions, emphasizing immutability and the avoidance of side effects. Key features such as lambda expressions, functional interfaces, and the Stream API allow developers to write more concise, readable, and maintainable code. By embracing functional programming principles, Java developers can create cleaner and more efficient applications, leveraging first-class functions and higher-order functions to improve code quality and facilitate a more declarative style of programming.