5 Important reasons why every developer should learn Java

Java is one of the most widely used backend languages for software developers. What was introduced as Oak in 1991 was rechristened as Java in 1995. New features such as support for JVM (Java Virtual Machine) contributed to its meteoric rise in popularity. Currently, Java is the third most popular programming language in the world.

If you have not given Java a try or are just starting your career in software development, this is a programming language you should learn.

Do not confuse Java with similar-sounding JavaScript used for web development. Java is a general-purpose server-side, object-oriented programming language. It is based on the ‘write once, run anywhere’ principle, implying it is platform-independent and can run on Windows, Linux, or any other environment with the same ease.

In this article, we will look at the most important reasons why you should learn Java.

1. Beginner friendly and competitive edge

The beginner-friendliness is the best part of learning Java. The language’s syntax is a lot like what we use in regular communication and matches a lot to C and C++. Java inherited many of its features from its predecessors, but it has more advanced features to help programmers write better code.

For instance, Java has advanced memory management that takes care of memory allocation, reallocation, and deallocation at runtime. It comes with an in-built tool called a Garbage collector for this purpose. No languages before Java had this feature.

Another advantage of using Java is the object-oriented nature that makes it precise and readable to use for real-time projects, even at the beginner stage. It doesn’t have a steep learning curve, so it will be easier for you to get the hang of Java if you are a developer.

2. Code portability and versatility

The “write once, run anywhere” principle Java is based on makes it a beneficial language for cross-platform development. When you download a Java setup, it comes with a software tool called Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The primary role of JVM is to convert Java code into machine-level language for the interpreter to compile and execute the code. The exact process is followed to compile and run Java code irrespective of the host operating system. When you learn Java, you can write code that runs on any machine.

Next, Java has strict object-oriented principles implying it can bind data members and data manipulating methods together. These features make data much more secure and make Java-capable to work with various resources. It makes Java one of the most versatile programming languages to work with.

3. Java is popular and gets you better pay

You must be careful with your programming language choice as a software developer. Ultimately, your goal is to advance in your career and earn better. For this, you need to choose a programming language that will be in high demand. 

As mentioned before, Java is the third most popular programming language for software development in June 2022. It is used by over 9 million developers and has built applications that run on over 7 billion devices. Hence, it is safe to assume that learning Java will serve you well in the long term. Also, Java developers are some of the highest-paid professionals earning over $90,000 a year.

4. Abundant API support

Java is a programming language built for seamless integration, which is why it has abundant Application Programming Interface (API) support that includes many Java interfaces, classes, and packages.

Why is API support necessary?

It helps developers create applications without necessarily knowing the inside implementations of another code block or application.

There are three types of APIs available for Java.

Official Java core API

Optional official Java API

Unofficial API

Java developers have APIs available for applications, networking, databases, I/O, speech analysis, XML, and many more.

5. Java has powerful IDEs

Java developers can work with multiple Integrated Development Environments or IDEs. This works because developers can use their favorite IDE to write Java code. Some of the most popular IDEs used for Java development include Eclipse, IntelliJ, IDEA, and NetBeans. 

These IDEs have powerful syntax highlighting, debugging, code completion, automated refactoring, and multiple language support. It makes it easier and faster to write Java code.

Conclusion

Java is an important language to learn for software development. The above-listed reasons do not cover the entire scope of Java but give you an overview of why you must know Java. If it helps, Java is preferred by 90% of Fortune500 companies for their backend applications. 

Additionally, the language powers the Android operating system and Android apps. Learning Java is a worthwhile investment for any developer.