Kotlin vs Java: Choosing the Right Language for Android App Development

The Basics of Java:

Advantages of Using Java:

Introduction to Kotlin:

Advantages of Using Kotlin:

Kotlin programming language is an interoperable language with Java, so it inherits the benefits of Java too. It uses the compiler of Java to compile and run the programs. It offers many benefits to develop their applications with Java.

Differentiating Kotlin and Java

Among these powerful Android application development programming languages, it is crucial to choose the one for the developers. Let’s explore the core differences between Java and Kotlin languages.

1. Null Safety

Java programmers have to face the occurrences of NullPointerException. Null pointer exception is the runtime exception in Java that allows developers to assign a null value to the object. It is most important for developers to handle this exception before they continue their work.

In Kotlin, it doesn’t allow programmers to assign any type of null values and variables to the object. In simple terms, there are no occurrences of null pointer exceptions in Kotlin.

2. Coding Requirements

Kotlin is like a condensed language, it requires fewer lines of code to build the same functions compare to Java. It also helps minimize the errors made by humans and makes easier the app development cycle.

While Java is a more complex language to design and build apps, with the use of Kotlin, one will have the same features and functionalities to streamline your development cycle.

3. Extension Functions

After creating any methods in Java, it will be more critical to modify the existing methods for better results. The main result is that Java allows the developers to inherit the functionalities of a class into another class.

Kotlin offers the feature of extension functions, which allows developers to modify the classes and methods easily and faster.

4. Coroutines Support

Handling and the execution of multiple threads can be complex if the threads are not managed appropriately. Java allows to run multiple threading of compound operations in the background. The negative impact of this feature is that tracing the status of all threads at once is not possible, so it may raise mistakes in the program.

Kotlin works in the same way, it allows developers to create several coroutines which is a more accessible alternative. Also, one can hold the current execution of the coroutine and can continue without starting from the beginning.

5. Type Interface

Application development with Java programming mandates developers to declare the variable and the type of the variable explicitly. It enhances the full control that how their code will be interpreted in run-time.

In Kotlin programming language, programmers don’t need to declare the type of variables explicitly. It will automatically determine the data type based on the value assigned to it.

6. Static Members

Data members or data types which are declared statically are known as the static data members of the class. One can use those members in other classes and methods by using a single instance. Java development language allows developers to create and use static members.

Kotlin is not having any feature to build and utilize the static members in Android application development.

Conclusion

It is crucial to select the best mobile app development language to serve a fully-featured Android application. Kotlin and Java both are robust and amazing mobile application development platforms. The differences between these languages help you to choose the best language, or one can use both programming languages together to offer the best results. Sometimes, this choice depends on the specific requirements of the clients and the preferences of the development teams.