---
description: What is Kotlin? Kotlin is an open-source programming language that can run on Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The language can run on numerous platforms. It is a language that combines Object Oriented Pro
title: Kotlin vs Java – Difference Between Them
image: https://www.guru99.com/images/kotlin-vs-java-1.png
---

 

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## Kotlin VS Java – Overview

* Kotlin combines features of both object-oriented and functional programming, whereas Java is limited to object-oriented programming.
* Kotlin allows users to create an extension function, while Java doesn’t offer any extension functions.
* Kotlin doesn’t offer implicit conversions, and Java supports implicit conversions.
* There are no null variables or objects in Kotlin; on the other hand, Null variables or objects are part of the Java language.
* Kotlin doesn’t support static members, while Java uses static members.
* In Kotlin, variables of a primitive type are objects, while in Java, Variables of a primitive type aren’t objects
* Kotlin supports Lambda Expression, whereas Java doesn’t support Lambda expression. (Lambda expressions are added in Java 8)
* Kotlin doesn’t require any variable datatype specifications, while Java requires variable datatype specifications.
* Kotlin doesn’t require any variable datatype specifications, but Java requires variable datatype specifications.
* Kotlin programs don’t require semicolons in their program, while Java programs do need a semicolon.
* Language scripting capabilities allow you to use Kotlin directly in your Gradle build scripts, while Java does not offer language scripting capabilities.

[![Kotlin Vs Java](https://www.guru99.com/images/kotlin-vs-java-1.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/kotlin-vs-java-1.png)

Kotlin Vs Java

Here, I have analyzed the differences between Kotlin and Java and will comprehensively evaluate their pros and cons.

## What is Kotlin?

[Kotlin](https://www.guru99.com/kotlin-tutorial.html) is an open-source programming language that can run on Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The language can run on numerous platforms.

It is a language that combines Object Oriented Programming (OOPs) and functional programming in an unrestricted, self-sufficient, and distinctive platform.

## History of Kotlin

Here are the pivotal landmarks from the history of Kotlin that I’ve witnessed:

* In 2016, [Kotlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotlin%5F%28programming%5Flanguage%29) v1.0 was launched
* In 2017, Announcement of Google on the first-class support of Kotlin in Android
* In 2018, Kotlin v1.3 version was released, bringing coroutines for asynchronous programming.
* In 2019, Google announced Kotlin as its preferred programming language for Android application developers

## Features of Kotlin

Here, let me share the important features of Kotlin as we have applied them to our projects.

* Offers Trimmed Coding
* Kotlin utilizes [JVM](https://www.guru99.com/java-virtual-machine-jvm.html), which combines the features of [OOPs](https://www.guru99.com/java-oops-concept.html) and functional-oriented programming.
* Offers fast compilation
* Kotlin can support a variety of extension functions without making any changes to the code
* You can write Kotlin code using IDE or using the command-line interface
* Smart feature casting helps you to cut down the application costs and improves its speed or performance.

## Example of Kotlin Code


fun main(args : Array<string>)   
{  
println("Hello, World!")  
}  

**Output:**


Hello, World!

## Advantage of Kotlin

In our experience, here are the benefits and pros of Kotlin:

* Using the Kotlin Multi-platform framework, you can **extract one** common codebase that will target all of them at the same time
* Kotlin offers built-in null safety support, which is a lifesaver, especially on Android, which is full of old Java-style APIs.
* It’s more concise and expressive than Java, which means there is less room for error.
* Offers user-friendly and understandable coding norms
* Divides large apps into smaller layers.
* Uses lots of function types and specialized language structures like lambda expressions.
* Helps developers to create extension functions
* Offers a very simple and almost automated way of creating data classes
* Kotlin is a statically typed language, so it is very easy to read and write.
* This language allows the exchange and use of information from Java in various ways.
* It’ll take less time to write new code in Kotlin.
* It’s quite easier to deploy Kotlin code and to maintain it at scale.

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## Disadvantage of Kotlin

Here, I will outline the cons and drawbacks of using Kotlin:

* Small community of developers, so it lacks learning materials and professional assistance.
* Java doesn’t offer a function of checked exceptions that may lead to errors.
* Slower compilation speed than Java
* Kotlin, being a highly declarative language, sometimes helps you to generate great amounts of boilerplate in corresponding JVM bytecode

[](https://www.guru99.com/images/kotlin-vs-java-google-trend.png)

Google Trends Kotlin vs Java

##  What is Java?

Java is a multi-platform, object-oriented, and network-centric programming language. It is among the most used programming languages. It is also used as a computing platform, and it was first released by Sun Microsystem in 1995\. It was later acquired by Oracle Corporation.

## History of JAVA

Here, we’ll look at important landmarks from the history of the Java language that we have witnessed and analyzed. 

* The [Java language](https://www.guru99.com/introduction-to-java.html) was initially called OAK. Originally, it was developed for handling portable devices and set-top boxes. Oak was a massive failure.
* In 1995, Sun changed the name to “Java” and modified the language to take advantage of the burgeoning www (World Wide Web) development business.
* Later in 2009, Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems and took ownership of three key Sun software assets: Java, [MySQL](https://www.guru99.com/mysql-tutorial.html), and Solaris.

## Features of Java

Here are the important features of Java that we’ve come to appreciate:

* Write code once and run it on almost any computing platform
* It is designed for building object-oriented applications.
* It is a multi-threaded language that allows automatic memory management.
* Facilitates distributed computing as its network-centric.

## Example of Java Code

 class A {
 public static void main(String args[]){
     System.out.println("Hello World");
 }
}

**Output:**


Hello World

## Advantages of Java

In my experience, here are the benefits of Java:

* Checked exceptions that improve error detecting and solving
* Detailed documentation is available.
* A large pool of skilled developers available
* A huge array of 3rd party libraries
* It allows you to form standard programs and reusable code.
* It is a multi-threaded environment that allows you to perform many tasks simultaneously in a program.
* Excellent performance
* Easy to navigate libraries

## Disadvantages of Java

In my experience, here are the cons and disadvantages of Java:

* Not very suitable for Android API design because of a number of limitations
* Demands a lot of manual work, which increases the number of potential errors
* JIT compiler makes the program comparatively slow.
* Java has high memory and processing requirements.
* It does not provide support for low-level programming constructs like pointers.
* You don’t have any control over garbage collection as Java does not offer functions like delete() or free().

## Difference Between Kotlin and Java

In our analysis, we will delineate the differences between Kotlin and Java that I have come to understand.

[](https://www.guru99.com/images/2/022220%5F0655%5FKotlinvsJav3.png)

Difference between Kotlin and Java

| Kotlin                                                                                          | Java                                                                                                                                            |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Kotlin allows users to create an extension function.                                            | Java doesn’t offer any extension functions.                                                                                                     |
| Kotlin doesn’t require too much work for data classes.                                          | Java developers write and construct a lot of elements to develop classes                                                                        |
| Kotlin doesn’t offer implicit conversions.                                                      | Java supports implicit conversions.                                                                                                             |
| There are no null variables or objects in Kotlin.                                               | Null variables or objects are part of Java language.                                                                                            |
| Kotlin combines features of both object-oriented and functional programming.                    | Java is limited to object-oriented programming.                                                                                                 |
| Kotlin doesn’t support static members.                                                          | Java uses static members.                                                                                                                       |
| Variables of a primitive type are objects                                                       | Variables of a primitive type aren’t objects                                                                                                    |
| In Kotlin, we can have one or more secondary constructors.                                      | In [Java](https://www.java.com/en/), we can’t have secondary constructors. However, it can have multiple constructors.                          |
| Kotlin string template also supports expression.                                                | Java string doesn’t support expression like Kotlin.                                                                                             |
| It’s quite easier to deploy Kotlin code.                                                        | It is hard to deploy Java code.                                                                                                                 |
| Kotlin programs don’t require semicolons in their program.                                      | Java program does need a semicolon.                                                                                                             |
| In Kotlin, coroutines are concurrency design patterns that can be used to simplify code.        | Java uses two coroutine options: 1) Rx Java and 2) Project loom.                                                                                |
| Kotlin doesn’t have any wildcard-types.                                                         | Wide-card is available in Java.                                                                                                                 |
| Kotlin’s type of system has inbuilt null safety.                                                | NullPonter Exception is mainly responsible for the development of Java and Android.                                                             |
| Smart cast feature is available in Kotlin.                                                      | Smart cast feature is not available in Java.                                                                                                    |
| Kotlin doesn’t require any variable datatype specifications                                     | Java requires variable datatype specifications.                                                                                                 |
| Kotlin supports Lambda Expression.                                                              | Lambda expressions are added in Java 8                                                                                                          |
| Lazy-Loading feature is available in Kotlin.                                                    | This feature is not available in Java.                                                                                                          |
| Language scripting capabilities allow you to use Kotlin directly in your Gradle build scripts   | Java does not offer language scripting capabilities.                                                                                            |
| It supports modern programming concepts like delegates, extensions, and higher-order functions. | Java supports the OOPS programming concept.                                                                                                     |
| The average salary for a Java developer is $104,793 per year.                                   | The average salary for “Kotlin” ranges from approximately $107,275 per year for Software Engineers to $121,034 per year for Android Developers. |

## How to Choose Between Kotlin and Java

* When I consider all the pitfalls of Java, especially the problem with NullPointerExceptions, Kotlin seems to be the better one among the two.
* Although Java is still an essential language for every [android app development](https://www.guru99.com/android-tutorial.html) as the Android OS itself is based on the same.
* If you are looking to future-proof your Android app development services, then you should hire Kotlin developers for the same.

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