Difference between Java and Kotlin in Android with Examples Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2025 Suggest changes Share 36 Likes Like Report Kotlin KOTLIN is a cross platform, statically types, general purpose programming language with type inference. KOTLIN is designed to interoperate fully with java but type inference allows its syntax to be more concise.KOTLIN is sponsored by JetBrains and Google through the Kotlin Foundation. Java JAVA is an Object Oriented Programming Language developed by JAMES GOSLING and colleagues at SUN MICRO SYSTEMS in 1991.The language was initially called OAK. It was developed as a full fledged programming language in which one can accomplish the same sorts of tasks and solve the similar problems that one can do in other programming languages such as BASIC,C++ etc. Using Kotlin over Java language in Android The most important reason for introducing Kotlin to Android advancement was to decrease the number of lines of code and make development more convenient. Everything that can be done utilizing Java can be done utilizing Kotlin for Android development. For example: No need of findViewByIds: It is used to find the first descendant view with the given ID. Java TextView text = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView); text.setText("Hello World"); Kotlin textView.setText("Hello World")Free from Null Pointer Exception NullPointerExceptions are a tremendous source of disappointment for Java designers. In Kotlin, all sorts are non-nullable (incapable to hold null value) by default. If the code tries to use or return null in Kotlin, compile time error is shown. var a: String = "abc" // compilation error a = null Data Class: We often create classes to hold some data in it. In such classes, some standard functions are often derivable from the data. In Kotlin, this type of class is known as data class and is marked as data.data class User(val name: String, val age: Int) There are many differences in both these languages according to their features FeaturesKotlinJava1. Extension FunctionsIt is already available in KotlinIn java, we need to create class2. Null SafetyIt is available in KotlinIt is not available in Java3. Static MembersKotlin doesn't have a static member for a classIt is available in Java4. String TemplatesYes, there are two types of string literals in KotlinIt is available in Java too but it doesn't support expression like Kotlin5. Wildcard TypesIt is not available in KotlinAvailable in Java6. SmartcastsAvailable in KotlinNot Available in Java7. No Checked ExceptionsKotlin removed exceptions entirelyIt is problematic in Java8. Operator OverloadingKotlin allows users to provide a way to invoke functionsOperators are tied to particular Java Types9. ConstructorsIt has primary constructor and secondary constructorConstructors can be used to take parameters to initialize attributes10. Type SystemIt gives nullability support, type inference, and universal guardsThere are other kinds of reference types related to the basic concept of class Despite all the differences between the two languages, Java and Kotlin are 100% interoperable. You can call Kotlin code from Java, and you can call Java code from Kotlin. So it's possible to have Kotlin and Java classes side-by-side within the same project, and everything will still compile. V vipinyadav15799 Follow 36 Article Tags : Android Kotlin Android Explore Android Tutorial 10 min read BasicsIntroduction to Android Development 5 min read History of Android 15+ min read Best Way to Become Android Developer – A Complete Roadmap 7 min read Android Development Prerequisites [2025] - Things to Learn Before Android Development 8 min read Android App Development Fundamentals for Beginners 6 min read Android Architecture 5 min read Android System Architecture 3 min read Android Boot Process 4 min read Difference between Java and Kotlin in Android with Examples 3 min read Interesting Facts About Android 3 min read Software Setup and ConfigurationDownload and Instal JDK on Windows, Mac and Linux 7 min read Guide to Install and Setup IntelliJ IDEA for Android App Development 5 min read Guide to Install and Setup Visual Studio for Android App Development 4 min read How to Run the Android App on a Real Device? 2 min read Resolving frequently occurring errors in Android Development 3 min read Android Studio Tutorial 9 min read File Structure & ComponentsComponents of an Android Application 3 min read Introduction to Activities in Android 6 min read Services in Android with Example 10 min read Core TopicsHow Does Android App Work? 7 min read Activity Lifecycle in Android with Demo App 9 min read Introduction to Gradle 4 min read What is Context in Android? 9 min read Bundle in Android with Example 6 min read Activity State Changes In Android with Example 6 min read Processes and Application Lifecycle in Android 7 min read Desugaring in Android 4 min read Difference Between AndroidX and Android Support Libraries 3 min read Memory Leaks in Android 7 min read Layout & ViewLayouts in Android UI Design 3 min read Android UI Layouts 5 min read LinearLayout and its Important Attributes with Examples in Android 3 min read Android LinearLayout in Kotlin 2 min read Android RelativeLayout in Kotlin 4 min read ConstraintLayout in Android 6 min read TextView widget in Android with Examples 5 min read TextView in Kotlin 3 min read Working With the TextView in Android 7 min read Autosizing TextView in Android 6 min read ButtonButton in Android 3 min read How to Add Radio Buttons in an Android Application? 5 min read RadioButton in Kotlin 4 min read How to add Toggle Button in an Android Application 3 min read ToggleButton in Kotlin 2 min read RadioGroup in Kotlin 3 min read Intent and Intent FiltersWhat is Intent in Android? 4 min read Implicit and Explicit Intents in Android with Examples 6 min read How to Send Data From One Activity to Second Activity in Android? 7 min read How to open dialer in Android through Intent? 3 min read Creating Multiple Screen Applications in Android 6 min read How to Open Camera Through Intent and Display Captured Image in Android? 6 min read Toast & RecyclerViewToasts for Android Studio 2 min read What is Toast and How to Use it in Android with Examples? 6 min read Android Toast in Kotlin 3 min read How to Change Toast font in Android? 3 min read How to add a custom styled Toast in Android 4 min read RecyclerView in Android with Example 7 min read Android | Horizontal RecyclerView with Examples 4 min read How to create a nested RecyclerView in Android 5 min read How to Create RecyclerView with Multiple ViewType in Android? 6 min read RecyclerView using ListView in Android With Example 5 min read My Profile ${profileImgHtml} My Profile Edit Profile My Courses Join Community Transactions Logout Like