Kotlin vs Java: Detailed Comparison Guide

In Java, you must build a new class and derive the capabilities of the parent class in order to add to the capabilities of an existing class. That is to say, and you can’t use the extend feature because it’s disabled.

class derived-class extends base-class  
{  
   //methods and fields  
}

3.3 Code

Kotlin’s low code-base requirements are a major differentiator from Java. It’s a short, succinct language that makes less room for mistakes in the code and makes life easier for programmers.

Generally speaking, Kotlin takes less lines of code than Java to express the same functions, which benefits in developing enterprise applications. On top of that, it may be succinct without sacrificing clarity of syntax.

3.4 Coroutines Support

The default behavior of Android is for all elements of a given app to share the same function and thread (the main thread, which handles user interaction). Operations that need a lot of CPU time or network I/O take a long time. Either of these procedures blocks the calling thread until their whole has been finished after they have been started.

Java permits the development of several background threads to handle long processes off of the main thread. The negative is that it’s difficult to keep track of numerous threads at once, which might increase the likelihood of programming mistakes.

Kotlin is similar in that it allows for the creation of numerous threads. However, a superior and more accessible alternative, called coroutines, is presented.

To what end do coroutines serve? Since they don’t need a stack, coroutines let programmers pause the running program and pick it back up later. This paves the way for asynchronous code that gives the impression of being synchronous yet does not block. For this reason, coroutines prevent the need for an excessive number of threads, each of which the developer must eventually manage. They also provide a more precise and streamlined solution than Java.

3.5 Data Classes

The fields (or variables) to hold data, the constructor, and the getter and setter methods for the fields/variables, in addition to ancillary functions like hashCode(), equals(), and toString(), must all be established by developers in Java. Although they may look like they have some functionality, in reality, these classes are just there to hold information.

Instead, the “data” keyword in Kotlin’s class declaration makes it easier to design classes that can store data. Then compiler automatically generate the constructor and numerous getter and setter procedures for fields and variables.

3.6 Smart Casts

Checking the type of parameters in a Java cast ensures that they are compatible with the operation.

The smart casts functionality in Kotlin is responsible for performing the necessary casting tests. The “is-checks” keyword allows Kotlin’s smart compiler to take care of managing repetitive casts (with safe values) efficiently.

fun demo(x: Any) {
    if (x is String) {
        print(x.length) // x is automatically cast to String
    }
}

3.7 Checked Exceptions

However, Kotlin does not provide checked exceptions. That’s why Kotlin programmers don’t need to worry about declaring or catching exceptions. 

Support for checked exceptions is available to Java developers. This necessitates the action of “catching” and “declaring” exceptions. To be sure, it’s not always easy and it does take some time. On the contrary hand, it guarantees error-free and reliable code quality. Consequently, there are both benefits and drawbacks to using checked exceptions. All boils down to the individual preferences of the programmers involved.

3.8 Functional Programming: Higher-Order Functions and Lambdas

Kotlin combines object-oriented and functional programming. Declarative in nature, the functional programming language is well-suited to the management of calculations using mathematical functions. Examples of functional programming ideas include high-order functions and lambda expressions.

The first one implies that functions are of the highest possible importance. This allows the statically typed language Kotlin to achieve most of its many possible functional types. In other words, there are several methods to implement a function.

Lambda expressions and anonymous functions are also supported in Kotlin. The term “functional literal” describes these. Therefore, it stands in for a function that has not been defined but is nevertheless allowed to be used as an expression.

On the other hand, Java is more constrained by the confines of the object-oriented paradigm. But it has also been making progress toward functional programming. Lambda expressions, functions that don’t have to be members of any particular class, have been available in Java since version 8 (2014). As a matter of fact, lambda expressions in Java may be provided as objects and run as needed.

On top of that, high-order functions were finally supported in Java after the advent of lambda expressions. A method in Java is equivalent to a function, and beginning with Java 8, lambda might be returned from methods.

Example of lambda expression: 

In Kotlin:

val sum: (Int, Int) -> Int = { a: Int, b: Int -> a + b }

In Java:

int sum = (a,b) -> (a+b);

3.9 Primitive Types

Primitive type variables in Java are not objects, but rather are predeclared data kinds in Java. There are eight distinct primitive data types available in Java: int, byte, short, double, float, boolean, char, and long. As a result, you can’t use structs or classes to describe these variables.

In Java, classes can be created to “wrap” a value of a basic type, even if primitive types themselves are not classes. It requires an explicit developer indication in Java.

Kotlin, on the other hand, treats any primitive type variable as an object as immediately as it is initialized.

3.10 Public Fields

Java supports public fields, often known as non-private fields. They allow the developer to alter an object’s description without affecting the callers, which may be very useful in cases when the callers of an object want to adapt to the object’s new representation. The fields may then be made public, preserving both the public API and the project’s supportability.

However, In Kotlin, a field is used as a part of a property to hold its value in memory. Here, one can not declare the fields directly. 

3.11 Wildcard Types

In most programming languages, the question mark (?) is used as a wildcard to indicate a type that has not yet been defined (of variable, field, or parameter).

Wildcards are not supported in Kotlin like they are in Java. It replaces them with a declaration-site variant and type projections.

3.12 Implicit Conversions

While other languages may allow for implicit widening conversions, Kotlin does not. Because of this, there is no way to transform a smaller type into a larger type. Developers working in Kotlin will run across this problem unless they do an explicit conversion to get the appropriate type.

In contrast, developers don’t have to worry about performing explicit conversions while working with Java because the language enables implicit conversions.

Example: 

Java:

public class myClass{ 
   public static void main(String args[]) { 
      int a = 81; 
      System.out.println("Integer value : "+a);   // Implicit Type Casting 
      long b = a;                                // Int val to long data type                                            
   }
}

But in Kotlin, we can not directly assign integer value to the long data type.

var x = 100
var y : Long = x       
// Compiler error
// Type mismatch: inferred type is Int but Long was expected
 
 
var x = 100
var y: Long = x.toLong()     
// compiles successfully

4. Tabular Comparison: Kotlin vs Java

5. Unique Features of Kotlin

• High-performing user-defined flow control with lambda expressions and inline functions
• Moduli of extension
• Null-safety
• The use of savvy casting techniques
• Template strings
• Properties
• Essential builders
• Superior delegation
• Inferring the nature of a variable or property from its context
• Singletons
• Variation in declaration locations and expected type
• Range expressions
• Operator overloading
• Companion objects
• Structures of information
• Separate user interfaces for immutable and readable collections
• Coroutines

6. Pros and Cons of Kotlin

6.1 Benefits of Using Kotlin

• You may use the Kotlin Multi platform framework to simultaneously target many platforms from a single codebase.
• Kotlin’s built-in null safety support is a godsend, particularly on Android with its abundance of legacy Java-style APIs.
• Compared to Java, it has less space for error since it is more succinct and expressive.
• Provides accessible and comprehensible code standards
• Breaks down complex programs into manageable chunks.
• Utilizes a wide variety of function types and advanced language constructs like lambda expressions.
• Facilitates the addition of new features by developers
• Provides a straightforward, nearly hands-off method of defining data classes.
• Kotlin’s simple syntax and readable type system make it an ideal language for beginners.
• Information from Java may be transferred and used in a number of different contexts thanks to this language.
• Kotlin will speed up the process of creating new code.
• The process of deploying and maintaining scalable Kotlin code is significantly less complicated.

6.2 Disadvantages of Kotlin

• Due to the small size of the developer community, educational resources and expert guidance are in short supply.
• In Java, you won’t find any error-prevention features like checked exceptions.
• Taking longer to compile than Java.
• Due to Kotlin’s declarative nature, it might be useful to produce substantial quantities of boilerplate in the form of JVM bytecode.

7. Unique Features of Java

• Checked exceptions.
• Primitive types in Java are not objects. 
• Java code compiles faster than the Kotlin one. 
• It supports ternary operator (a?b:c)
• Java supports implicit conversion. So that one can directly convert smaller types into bigger ones.

8. Pros and Cons of Java

8.1 Benefits of Java

• Improved issue detection and resolution thanks to checked exceptions
• It comes with a manual that details everything.
• Java has a  sizable pool of talented programmers.
• Comprehensive third-party library support.
• You may use it to create repeatable code and consistent applications.
• It’s a multi-threaded setting where many tasks can be executed in the same software at the same time.
• Excellent performance.
• Library catalogs that are a breeze to use.

8.2 Disadvantages of Java

• Due to its many restrictions, Android API architecture is not a good fit.
• Calls for a lot of manual labor, which raises the possibility of mistakes.
• This is because the JIT compiler causes the application to run more slowly than usual.
• Java’s memory and CPU demands are rather high.
• No help for pointers and other low-level programming structures is included.
• The trash collector is completely out of your hands because Java lacks standard control methods like delete(), free().

9. Java Issues That are Addressed in Kotlin

Kotlin addresses some shortcomings of Java:

• The type system regulates the use of null references.
• There aren’t any unrefined individuals here.
• In Kotlin, arrays are of fixed  size.
• If you’re used with Java’s SAM-conversions, you’ll be pleased to know that Kotlin provides appropriate function types.
• Use-site variance without wildcards.
• Unfortunately, Kotlin does not provide checked exceptions.

10. Is Kotlin Replacing Java?

When comparing Kotlin vs Java, which has its own set of challenges, Kotlin emerges victorious, particularly when dealing with Null pointer exceptions. Kotlin’s characteristics, such as a superior type system, gradual modification of code, and less coding, make it more attractive for future usage, despite Java’s continued importance for android development.

Kotlin is quickly becoming a go-to language for creating Android apps since it encourages developers to try out new techniques and approaches in the realm of current programming. Kotlin is nearly identical to Java, so it’s a safe bet that it’ll do all that a good programming language should.