Java is a platform-independent language that runs on 3 billion devices worldwide. It is widely used in enterprise applications, android development, big data, and legacy software, where reliability and security are crucial.

You can often find universities teaching Java as a part of the curriculum as it focuses on writing clean and structured code from the beginning.

With a competitive base salary, Java is in high demand, especially for large enterprise systems.

In this guide, we will cover:

If you are simply looking to learn Java step-by-step, you can follow our free tutorials in the next section.

Beginner's Guide to Java

These tutorials will provide you with a solid foundation in Java and prepare you for the next steps in your career.

Is Java for you?

Choosing whether to learn Java depends on your interests in programming and your career goals.

Java from a Learning Perspective

If you're aiming to learn a flexible programming language, Java might be the right choice for you.

Let's see an example:

main.java

      
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Calculator calc = new Calculator();
        System.out.println(calc.add(5, 10));
    }
}

class Calculator {
    public int add(int x, int y) {
        return x + y;
    }
}
      
    

Don't worry if you don't understand this code yet.

As you can see, Java follows a modular structure encouraging you to write flexible and scalable code right from the beginning of your programming journey.

Universities often use Java to introduce fundamental software engineering concepts, data structures and algorithms to students. Additionally, Java has one of the best documentation from Oracle, which simplifies the learning process for beginners.

Java as Career Choice

Java is a versatile programming language that supports many modern software technologies. It is commonly used in:

  • Enterprise Software Development
  • Android App Development
  • Web Server Applications
  • Game Development
  • Big Data Technologies

Learning Java opens up a wide range of career opportunities for you.

However, there are certain areas where choosing Java may not be your best choice. For example, if you are interested in web development, low-level system programming, or data analytics and machine learning, then Java is not the ideal option.

In these cases, alternatives such as JavaScript for web development, Python for Data Analysis and Machine Learning, and C or C++ for low-level system programming may be more suitable.

Ultimately, your career choice can guide you in selecting which programming language to learn.

Best Way to Learn Java

There is no right or wrong to learn Java. It all depends on your learning style and pace.

In this section, we have included the best Java learning resources tailored to your learning preferences, be it text-based, video-based, or interactive courses.

Text-based Tutorial

Best: if you are committed to learning Java but do not want to spend on it

If you want to learn Java for free with a well-organized, step-by-step tutorial, you can use our free Java tutorials.

Our tutorials will guide you through Java one step at a time, using practical examples to strengthen your foundation.

Interactive Course

Best: if you want hands-on learning, get your progress tracked, and maintain a learning streak

Learning to code is tough. It requires dedication and consistency, you need to write tons of code yourself.

While videos and tutorials provide you with a step-by-step guide, they lack hands-on experience and structure.

Recognizing all these challenges, Programiz offers a premium Learn Java Course that allows you to gain hands-on learning experience by solving challenges, building real-world projects, and tracking your progress.

There is no easy shortcut to learning coding!

Online Video

Best: if you are an audio-visual learner and learn by watching others code and following along

If you're more of a visual learner, there's a Java full course by Programming with Mosh that will guide you on your journey to Java programming.

Mobile App

Best: if you are a casual and hobby learner who wants to just get to know Java

While it's possible to learn Java from mobile apps, it's not the ideal way because writing code can be challenging. Additionally, it's difficult to build real-world projects with multiple files on mobile devices.

Nevertheless, you can use these apps to try things out.

Important: You cannot learn to code without developing the habit of writing code yourself. Therefore, whatever method you choose, always write code.

While writing code, you will encounter errors. Don't worry about them, try to understand them and find solutions. Remember, programming is all about solving problems, and errors are part of the process.

How to Run Java?

1. Run Java in your browser.

We have created an online editor to run Java directly on your browser. You don't have to go through a tedious installation process. You just can start coding directly.

2. Install Java on Your computer.

Once you start writing complex programs and creating projects, you should definitely install Java on your computer. It's needed especially when you are creating projects with multiple files and folders.

To install Java on your device, you can use this guide.

how-to-install-java-2

Getting Started with Java

Learn how you can install and use Java on your own computer.

Learn more