The first versions of Kotlin were released in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2016 that the programming language rose to fame and started being used by Android developers around the world. What does Kotlin offer that Java doesn’t? Let’s take a closer look at the main benefits of using Kotlin over Java, including syntax, tooling, interoperability with Java, ease of coding, and more.
Advantages of Kotlin :
Confused about choosing the right platform? Java or Kotlin Which is best for your next Android app development? Check out the listed advantages of Kotlin over Java.
Kotlin is More Concise
Kotlin is a concise programming language, it can shorten the length of your code by up to 30%. Kotlin also has more support for functional programming, which means you can avoid unnecessary loops and mutable states. This reduces boilerplate and helps keep your code clean and easy to read.
Kotlin Has Better Null Safety
One of the most important features that Kotlin offers is better null safety. In Java, there are many cases where you must check for null before referencing an object. This means that if you accidentally misspell a variable name or reference a null variable, your application can crash. These types of errors are very difficult to find and fix. In Kotlin, all references are implicitly non-nullable by default, which makes it much easier to avoid this type of error.
Kotlin Has Higher-Order Functions
Kotlin is a statically-typed programming language for general-purpose programming, with an emphasis on strong typing and interoperability. It was designed in 2011 by JetBrains programmers to solve problems that developers had with other languages, such as Java. One such problem is the ability of programmers to create higher-order functions in Kotlin. Higher-order functions are used when a function takes another function as an input or returns a function as an output.
Kotlin Supports Coroutines
Kotlin offers a number of benefits that may be appealing for your new project. The main advantage is interoperability with Java, which means you can migrate your existing projects gradually, or even build them in both languages. Another is the support for coroutines, which allow programmers to write asynchronous code using simple sequential syntax.
Kotlin Is Interoperable with Java
Java and Kotlin are both JVM-based languages, but they have some important differences. The idea behind interoperability is that Java developers should be able to use the language with an ease that’s comparable to the use of Java itself. The interoperability is so good because the syntax between Java and Kotlin is almost identical, which makes it easy for a Java developer to start using Kotlin without needing much training.
Final Thoughts
Java has been the programming language that has dominated the development scene for years, but it might be time for a change. Learning the newest language, Kotlin, is just what you need to get your business on track and ahead of the competition. Hire Kotlin app developers today and start your project off on the right foot!
