Apache Kafka 4.0 Released: First Version Without ZooKeeper and New Features
Apache Kafka 4.0 has been officially released as the first major version that runs entirely without Apache ZooKeeper, introducing KRaft mode, a new consumer group protocol (KIP‑848), early‑access queue support (KIP‑932), updated Java requirements, and other enhancements aimed at improving scalability, operability, and messaging versatility.
Apache Kafka 4.0 has been officially released, marking a milestone as the first major version that operates completely without Apache ZooKeeper.
The announcement highlights that Kafka now runs by default in KRaft mode, simplifying deployment and management, eliminating the need for a separate ZooKeeper cluster, reducing operational overhead, and enhancing scalability.
One of the key improvements is KIP‑848, which introduces a new consumer‑group protocol that significantly speeds up rebalancing, reducing downtime and latency, and improving reliability for large‑scale deployments.
Kafka also offers early‑access queue support through KIP‑932, allowing Kafka to natively handle traditional queue semantics and expanding its suitability for point‑to‑point messaging use cases.
The release removes APIs that were deprecated for at least 12 months, updates minimum Java versions (Kafka client and Streams now require Java 11, while brokers, Connect, and tools require Java 17), and incorporates KIP‑896 to define new baseline upgrade requirements.
These highlights demonstrate Kafka’s continuous evolution to meet modern, scalable, and efficient data‑streaming and messaging architecture needs.
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