What is Java Used For?

What is Java, and why is everyone talking about it? If you are new to the programming world, you should have already figured out that programmers use different languages to code. 

Like real languages, programming languages have their syntaxes and specific set of rules. Because computers would not understand human languages, we use the different programming languages to dictate our commands. And Java is one of the most famous of them.

In fact, according to the 2021 statistics, it is the second most popular programming language in the world. But why is Java so famous, and why should you consider learning it? We'll figure it out right away: 

What is Java used for? 

A question that bothers all beginner programmers: what is Java used for? Java uses vary. It is a general-purpose programming language you can use in web development, enterprise-class applications, android development, and more. 

 Where is Java used? Here are some of the most common spheres: 

• Financial services: Java is used in server-side applications
• Stock market: Java is used to write the algorithms that decide which company people should invest in.
• Research Community: To deal with a vast amount of data, researchers might use Java.
• Banking: Java is used in transaction management.

But we still have not defined Java properly, so here is a clear answer to the question: 

What is Java? 

Released in 1995 by Sun Microsystems, Java is an object-oriented, cross-platform programming language used in different applications, such as audio or video apps, social media apps, and games. 

 Why is Java so popular?

Java remains popular today because it is constantly tested, updated, and refined. And as a Java developer, you'll always have a large community of Java developers and enthusiasts ready to help you with any problem. 

Now that we have figured out what is Java for and what does Java do, let's discuss: 

The Benefits of Java Programming 

Here are the three main advantages of the Java language: 

It is easy to learn: 

Java's primary purpose was to be easy to use. It was designed as an easy to write, debug, and compile language, making it easier to learn than other programming languages. 

It is object-oriented:

Object-oriented programming or OOP is considered one of the most natural programming languages. It allows you to break down the problem into smaller pieces and solve them one by one. It also helps to create modular programs and make the code more reusable. 

It is platform-independent 

Finally, one of the most significant advantages of Java is that you can run it in different computer systems as it is compatible with almost all of them. 

Big names that use Java

Want to know which are some of the most famous companies that use Java? Here are just a few names: 

• Google: Yes, the famous Gmail that you use every day has Java in it. Java is also at the core of Google Web Toolkit. In general, in the kingdom of Android-based apps, Java is the ruler.
• Airbnb: The most famous company using Java is probably Airbnb, where most of the back-end is written with Java.
• Netflix: The popular streaming platform Netflix also uses Java and Python for its back-end.

Some other influential names are Uber, Pinterest, Instagram, Spotify, Amazon, Slack, etc. 

How to learn Java 

Now that we have discussed all the basics of Java and its main advantages, it is time to understand how you can learn it. Every day the Internet is flooded with different Java beginners who google how to learn Java as quickly as possible. So we know the struggle. The good news is, it is possible to learn Java quickly and start practicing it. 

Online Java-learning courses 

Some of the platforms with online Java courses out there are: 

• Codecademy: Codeacademy is an online interactive platform that has classes for different programming languages, including Java. The Java courses suit both beginners and experts, and the best part about the platform is that you also get a chance to practice it. 
  
   
• Udemy: If you ever searched online courses, you have certainly come across the name Udemy. Udemy is one of the largest companies of online lessons, and they also have a lot of programming courses out there. You can check out their Java beginner courses, and once you finish them, you can easily switch to the more professional ones.
  
   
• YouTube: It is useless to mention that YouTube has endless resources for all Java enthusiasts. Many Java programmers keep YouTube channels and share their experience with Java beginners. You can find a lot of tips and tricks, as well as complete beginner courses.

How much will it take to learn Java? 

If you are entirely new to Java and want to become a proficient Java developer, you might need approximately 1-2 years to do so. This is if you take 2-3 hours each day to practice your Java skills. But in general, four months should be enough to familiarize yourself with the language and edit someone else's code. 

Sum Up 

Java is the second most used programming language today, following Python. It has been around since 1995 and has maintained its popularity until today. It might take you around two years to be proficient in the language, but in the end, you can be sure to find a lot of suitable vacancies and, eventually, a well-paying job.