The java.time package is a part of the Java programming language introduced in Java 8. It provides a comprehensive framework for handling date and time, addressing many issues found in the older java.util.Date and java.util.Calendar classes. The package includes classes like LocalDate, LocalTime, and ZonedDateTime, which allow developers to work with dates and times in a more intuitive and reliable way. One of the key features of java.time is its support for time zones and daylight saving time, making it easier to manage date and time calculations across different regions. The package also emphasizes immutability, meaning that once a date or time object is created, it cannot be changed, which helps prevent errors in date and time manipulation.