Introduction to Java: Why You Should Learn Java in 2025?

Introduction to Java

Java is a high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems by James Gosling and Bill Joy. It is an independent platform.

Java is similar to C++ and supports object-oriented programming techniques, which allows many C and C++ programmers to master the language quickly. Java also has GUI features that provide a better look and feel than the C++ language.

History & Evolution

In 1991, James Gosling started Java as an ” Oak ” project. Gosling planned to implement a virtual machine language with features similar to C and C++ but with more excellent uniformity and simplicity. In 1995, Oak was renamed Java due to legal snags.

Java Versions

JDK Alpha and Beta (1995)
JDK 1.0 (23rd Jan 1996)
JDK 1.1 (19th Feb 1997)
J2SE 1.2 (8th Dec 1998)
J2SE 1.3 (8th May 2000)
J2SE 1.4 (6th Feb 2002)
J2SE 5.0 (30th Sep 2004)
Java SE 6 (11th December 2006)
Java SE 7 (28th July 2011)
Java SE 8 (18th March 2014)
Java SE 9 (21st Sep 2017)
Java SE 10 (20th March 2018)

Java Editions (SE, EE, ME)

There are four Java programming language platforms.

Standard Edition(Java SE)
Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
Micro Edition (Java ME)
Java FX

Java SE (Standard Edition)

Java SE API provides the core functionality of the Java programming language. It defines everything from the basic types to objects used for networking, Security, database access, etc.

The Java SE platform comprises a virtual machine, development tools, deployment mechanisms, and other libraries.

Java EE (Enterprise Edition)

It is built on top of the Java SE Platform. The Java EE Platform offers an API and runtime environment for creating and executing extensive, multi-tiered, scalable, dependable, and secure network applications.

Java ME(Micro Edition)

The Java micro edition provides APIs and a small-footprint virtual machine for Java applications on mobile phones.

The Java ME API is a subset of the Java SE API. It is useful for developing small device applications and special class libraries.

JavaFX

JavaFX is a platform for creating internet applications using lightweight API. It uses hardware-accelerated graphics and media engines to take advantage of this.

Why Java is Popular?

The biggest reason Java is popular is its Platform independence. Programs can run on several different types of computers and devices. To run a program, a computer should have a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed, and a Java program can run on it.

Java API and Libraries are part of the Java language itself. It has 50 keywords and thousands of classes and methods that you can use in your program.

Reasons for the Popularity of Java

1. Platform Independence:

Java is platform-independent because, unlike C and C++, which are built for specific platforms, Java is designed as a write-once, run-anywhere language.

Java is platform-independent because it is compiled to bytecode and can be run on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This means you can write on one platform (Windows) and run on another (Linux or Mac) without changing the code.

Java byte code is interpreted by the Java Virtual processor (JVM) into instructions the host processor may run.

2. Easy to Learn and Use

Java’s simple syntax makes it approachable for new developers. The large collection of accessible courses and techniques facilitates the fast development of strong apps.

3. Security

It features built-in security options, so it is a safe choice for developers creating apps that handle private information.

4. Dynamic Libraries

It has an extensive collection of strong classes and methods that are fit for creating advanced applications.

5. Open Source

By examining the source code, programmers can make appropriate changes. Its environment may thus be more easily changed.

Java Vs. Other Programming Languages

Java vs C++

Java has an Automatic Garbage Collection, whereas C++ has manual memory management.
Java is slower than C++ in High-performance systems for programming.
Java is easier to learn, whereas C++ is very complex due to pointers and manual memory management.

Java vs Python

Python syntax is straightforward to learn compared to Java’s strict typing.
Python performance is slower due to its interpreted nature, whereas Java executes faster.
Python community support is growing rapidly, whereas the Java community is enormous and already established.

Java vs Javascript

Java’s execution is on the server side, whereas Javascript’s is on the client side.
Java’s Syntax is strongly typed, whereas JavaScript syntax is loosely typed.

Real-World Applications of Java

Mobile Application Development

Java’s compatibility and versatility with mobile app development tools such as Kotlin and Android Studio make it the go-to programming language for developing Android applications.

Popular developed mobile applications.

Linkedin
Netflix
Amazon
Uber
Ola

Web-based Applications

Java interacts with many web-based applications, so it is an automatic choice for developers when creating one. With support for Servlets, JSPs, or Struts, creating any web application using Java is efficient.

Web servers and Application Servers

Web servers are programs that handle websites hosted on them to deliver webpages to the end users. An application server is a framework that stores and handles data between the client and the back end.

Mobile Gaming Applications

Java can be used to develop mobile gaming applications. While developing gaming applications, it is difficult to avoid maintaining hardcore values, which are referred to as magic numbers in Java, which can make code difficult to maintain. jMonkey Engine, a gaming engine based on Java, is an open-source 3D game engine widely used by Indie developers.

Enterprise Applications

Enterprise applications are mainstream consumer applications but are explicitly built to solve business problems. Applications are built with Security and reliability, and businesses depend on them, keeping in mind that this is where Java comes in.

Applications using Big Data

Big data is the great collection of datasets available for trend and pattern analysis. It enables companies to scan and evaluate vast and complicated data.

Uses of Embedded Systems

Because Java uses less memory, it is a fast programming language used in embedded devices. An embedded system is a tiny portion of a broader integrated system used in a specific purpose.

Cloud-Based Applications

Oracle Cloud Services is one of the most popular cloud development tools. It provides a platform for developing and configuring Oracle services.

Cloud computing refers to the applications, software, or services that are rendered via the internet without any need for managing at the user’s end.

Introduction to Java: Why You Should Learn Java in 2025?