Final vs Effectively Final

A variable or parameter whose value never changes after it is initialized, is effectively final.

A variable or parameter declared with the final keyword is final.

Starting in Java SE 8, a local class or lambda expression can access local variables and parameters of the enclosing block that are final (old feature) or effectively final (new feature).

Examples of effectively final variables:

In following example, since value of x never changes after its initialization, it's effectively final and can be used in local class or lambda expressions:

 String x = "some str";
     new Runnable(){
         @Override
         public void run() {
           System.out.println(x);
          }
     };

Lambda expression example of effectively final:

    String x = "some str";
    Runnable r = ()-> System.out.println(x+" appended");

public void doSomething(String x) {
      Runnable r = () -> System.out.println(x + " appended");
   }

Not 'effectively final' example:

    String x = "some str";
    x = "assinged again";
    Runnable r = ()-> System.out.println(x+" appended");

Since the value of x changed in the second line, we have compile time error.

Output:

Following will also be an error, even value of x changes after lambda expression.

    String x = "some str";
    Runnable r = () -> System.out.println(x + " appended");
    x = "assinged again";

Output: