Companies across the globe use Java to build the applications and websites they offer their consumers. Learning this programming language means you’ve completed one of the prerequisites that could qualify you for a career in software or app development.
Java is a platform-independent, object-oriented programming language (OOP). It is not to be confused with JavaScript, a scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. Due to its reliability and ease of use, Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It's likely to be one of the first programming languages you encounter as an aspiring application developer.
Explore what you can do with Java and why this language continues to be a popular choice for software developers.
A significant benefit to Java is the wide range of tasks it can be used to perform. It is highly beneficial for tasks and projects requiring both high performance and quick turnaround. A few of the most common tasks for which Java is best suited are:
Building and running mobile applications
Building and scaling cloud applications
Developing chatbots and other marketing tools
Powering enterprise-level web applications
Supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) devices
Several Java features are due to the language's simplicity, security, and portability. The following list outlines nine of these key features.
Robust: Java emphasizes helping users achieve error-free programming. One example of a process that supports this goal is runtime checking (RTC). RTC automatically detects and alerts users to runtime errors.
Simple: Java is designed to be easy to learn. With the proper training and practice, it can also be easy to master. Its combination of automatic and structurally stable processes enables novice developers to build applications relatively easily.
Object-oriented: In the Java programming language, everything is seen as an object. Each object belongs to a class and is uniquely characterized by its identity, state, and behavior.
Multithreaded: Java programs and applications benefit from its multithreaded nature. The multithreading process enables you to run programs separately yet execute them simultaneously. Additionally, threads share a common memory area, reducing the load on the central processing unit (CPU).
Secure: The secure nature of the Java programming language is one of its most lauded features. By default, Java provides several layers of security that enable you as a developer to create and run virus-free coding environments. Security components include Java having no explicit pointer, the separation of local and imported class packages by the classloader, and the compilation of Java programs into bytecode, to name a few.
Platform-independent: Java sets itself apart from other programming languages by being a language that, once written, can run on any platform. With Java, you don’t have to write separate code for Mac, Linux, or Windows. Instead, Java is a software-based language. Its code is compiled, converted into bytecode, and then executed on any platform you choose.
Portable: This feature goes hand-in-hand with Java’s platform independence and is related to the ability to execute the language’s bytecode on any platform without implementation.
Architecturally neutral: Java is considered architecturally neutral because its bytecode interpreter can be employed on any platform. The code is free of dependencies and variants, and instructions from Java code are not directly executed on the platform it is running on.
Distributed: Java employs a distributed language system that allows you to move securely and access code between different machines. This makes Java fully compatible with any programming environment and simultaneously enables it to support high bandwidth requirements, reduce latency, and increase output.
Because Java is simple, robust, and platform-independent, you can use this programming language to create many different development projects. You can use Java in game development, cloud computing, artificial intelligence like deep learning, the Internet of Things, and Big Data.
Learning to code with Java can make you a more competitive candidate for programming roles. A few more benefits of learning to code with Java include:
Java is one of the simplest programming languages to learn, and it can typically be mastered in a shorter time than other languages.
You can explore countless online resources to learn Java, free and paid.
Java can be used to build everything from application servers to enterprise applications, making it a highly demanded skill in programming and software development.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of software developers is projected to grow by 17 percent between 2023 and 2033 [1].
Java’s popularity continues to grow among leading brands.
You may encounter a few challenges should you decide to learn the Java programming language:
Finding the time to dedicate to learning Java
Navigating the aspects of learning and understanding programming
Memorizing the many types and layers of protocols, interfaces, rules, and other internal mechanisms
If you’re new to programming or software development, you may want to consider carefully how you will manage these challenges.
Many companies and brands use Java to power their applications, software, and websites. Some of the biggest names in social media, tech, and many other industries have chosen Java as their programming language. A few examples you may be familiar with include:
Airbnb: For the backend/server-side development of its website and Android app
Pinterest: For application and data processing, along with other languages
Uber: To develop and maintain the entirety of its software that processes ride data
Spotify: For the backend of this music streaming platform
Slack: For its backend, including the development of Slack SDK for Java
Amazon: For software development, including Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Google: For its Google Web Toolkit, Android apps, and Gmail
Microsoft: To help develop its web browser Edge and its Visual Studio Code
eBay: To run the backend of its website
Netflix: For running the backend of this movie-streaming website
Meta: For backend programming and Android app development for its social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram
This list is not comprehensive. It is meant to illustrate how Java is the preferred programming language of many well-known companies and brands.
Java is a popular and versatile programming language with many resources to support you as you learn. As you begin your Java learning journey, you will find many beginner and advanced online resources available to choose from. The first step is to determine what Java concepts you want to learn and if you prefer a structured learning approach or one that lets you learn more independently. Explore a few recommendations to get you started:
For a brief but beginner-friendly introduction to Java that you can complete in 11 hours, check out LearnQuest's Introduction to Java.
If this is your first time learning a programming language, consider gaining fundamental software engineering expertise with Java by enrolling in Duke University's Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization.
To grow your software development portfolio with Java object-oriented programming (OOP), enroll in Duke University's Object Oriented Programming in Java Specialization.
course
An overview of the ideas, methods, and institutions that permit human society to manage risks and foster enterprise. Emphasis on financially-savvy ...
4.8
(29,589 ratings)
2,136,507 already enrolled
Beginner level
Average time: 33 hour(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Finance, Risk Management, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Innovation
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm." Accessed February 10, 2025.
Editorial Team
Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
Get interactive, on-demand assistance that’s tailored to your unique goals.
Save money and learn in-demand skills from top companies and organizations at your own pace.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.