Decoding the Java vs Python Debate: Which Programming Language is Better?

Quick Summary: Are you confused about choosing the right programming language between Python and Java? There are several key factors we have to consider when picking the best programming language for your business needs. Let’s read this detailed comparison of Python vs Java to make an informed decision.

Apple vs Microsoft. Google vs Amazon. McDonald's vs Burger King.

Can you pick any of one amongst these top rivalries? I guess the answer is NO.

Therefore, the battle between Java vs Python is among this rivalry, and it is not easy to choose any one for freshers or software developers who wish to step into the development industry.

I am sure we have all been in a position where we have had to choose between Java and Python, which was confusing. In fact, both programming languages have gained immense popularity in the software industry in different aspects.

Moreover, the number of programming languages used in software development and day-to-day life has grown enormously in the last decade. Out of those impressive numbers, we will now shift our attention to the two highly popular languages that have gathered attention from developers as well as beginners.

However, we have seen only one common factor: Both these languages have remained top in the programming world since 2000. They have survived and sustained despite the hassle due to the invention of new programming languages in the market.

Well, how is that possible? Can they beat each other in the programming world as well?

Let’s find out in this article. Here, we are going to talk about a brief introduction to both languages. Also, we will compare the fundamental concepts of both these languages. But before that, let’s understand its popularity.

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Java vs Python: Popularity

Google Trends suggests that the search volume and popularity of Python and Java were neck to neck until December 2019. However, in recent years, Python has become more popular than Java.

Another StackOverflow Trends showcases the same outcome: the sudden rise in Python among the developers community.

If we go through another report from Statista, we can see Python secures its position on the third number in the most used programming language among developers worldwide with 51%. On the other hand, Java achieved seventh place with 30.3% popularity. Hence, many developers prefer Python development to build software and data analysis-driven tasks.

Apart from the above-shown market trends, some other surveys and reports indicate that Python is gaining more popularity and momentum compared to Java. Well, this doesn’t mean that Java is getting older or becoming obsolete.

While talking about Java, it offers many benefits and various functionalities in other aspects. Hence, it’s still the most preferred programming language for enterprise-grade and custom software development projects. Well, thanks to its faster runtime ability and easy debugging feature.

Before we dive into the comparison between Java and Python, let’s go through the introduction to Python and Java, and understand each language with fundamentals.

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, interpreted, object-oriented programming language with dynamic semantics created by Guido van Rossum. Originally released in 1991, Python is a dynamically typed and garbage-collected language designed to be highly readable.

Programming styles supported by Python include object-oriented, structured, and functional programming. Moreover, Rapid Application Development becomes the first choice when you hire Python developers. Thanks to its built-in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding.

While going through other parameters and functionalities of Python, it turns out to be the most beginner-friendly language. Since Python is capable of managing a wide complexity for the user, it allows beginners to focus on adapting programming concepts instead of detailing them.

In addition, Python frameworks are categorized into three different categories: Full Stack Framework, Microframework, and Asynchronous Framework.

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Features of Python

Following are some of the main features of Python programming language:

• Object-Oriented Language
• GUI Programming Support
• Interpreted Language
• Automatic Garbage Collection
• Large Standard Library
• Dynamic Memory Allocation
• Beginner-Friendly
• Dynamically Typed and Type Checking

Advantages of Python

By leveraging Python ecosystems and Python frameworks, you can get the following advantages:

• A Pool of Third-party Modules
• Open Source and Large Active Community Base
• User-friendly Data Structures
• Dynamically Typed
• Portability
• Versatile - Easy to Read, Learn and Write

Disadvantages of Python

Even Python has some limitations, which are:

• Slow Speed
• Memory Intensive
• Weak In Mobile Computing
• Runtime Errors
• Not Optimized for Database Access
• No Multithreading Support

When to Use Python?

Python is used for web development and software development, task automation, data visualization, and data analysis. Since Python is easy to learn and write, it has been adopted by many beginners and non-programmers like scientists and accountants to perform data management tasks.

Python is used for:

• Data Analysis, Data Visualization and Machine Learning
• Python for Software Development and Web Development
• Automation or Scripting
• Software Testing and Prototyping

What is Java?

Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language for developing web applications.

Java is a general-purpose programming language developed by Sun Microsoft, allowing Java developers to follow one concept - write once, run anywhere. Java has evolved as a programming language with time, from simple text pages to pages with video and animation.

Features of Java

The prime features of Java programming language are as follows:

• Simple
• Object-Oriented
• Secured
• Robust
• Platform-Independent
• Portable
• Architecture Neutral
• Multi-threaded
• High Performance

Advantages of Java

There are a large number of applications in the world which use Java. Also, many organizations have opted for Java development to advance their competence in the market. However, by utilizing top Java frameworks, you can get the most out of this programming language.

Benefits of Java are:

• Simple and Easy to Learn
• Object-Oriented
• Low-Security Risks
• Automates Memory Process
• Supports Functional Programming

Disadvantages of Java

Let’s understand Java disadvantages:

• Performance
• Memory Consumption
• Cost
• Less Machine Interactive

When to Use Java?

Since Java is an open-source, versatile language, it’s used to build localized and distributed software, including:

• Game Development
• Cloud Computing
• Big Data
• Artificial Intelligence
• IoT Applications
• Chatbots and Other Marketing Tools

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Difference Between Python and Java

As we can see, both programming languages – Python and Java share some unique features and advantages to developers. However, if we go into detail to understand some key differences between Java and Python, it will clear your doubts and help you choose the right one.

• Python is an interpreted language that executes code line by line. On the other hand, Java is a compiled language that compiles code into bytecode. The bytecode is executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
• Python aims to provide clean and concise syntax, making it easier to read and write for developers. In comparison, Java has more verbose syntax, which can lead to longer lines of code.
• Java is a platform-independent language, which follows the “Write Once, Run Anywhere” principle through the JVM, whereas Python code needs an interpreter compatible with the targeted platform.
• While talking about the learning curve, Python is easy to learn and use, on the other hand, Java has a complex learning curve.
• Python has a large and growing community, particularly in data science and web development. Besides, Java has an extensive community, widely used in enterprise applications.
• Java relies on automatic garbage collection to manage memory. At the same time, Python handles memory management automatically using a garbage collector.
• Python has a vast library ecosystem (PyPI) with a strong focus on data science and machine learning. On the other hand, Java has a comprehensive standard library used to build large-scale enterprise applications.
• Java supports multithreading and concurrent programming, whereas the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) of Python can restrict parallelism in multithreading programs.

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Python vs Java: Which One is Better and to Choose?We can conclude that both Python and Java languages have their strengths and weaknesses. The choice completely depends on your project requirements, your familiarity with the languages, and the ecosystem you intend to work within.When considering Java vs Python, Java is quick and more portable, whereas Python is simple and concise. We can say that the future of Python is very glaring and assertive.While Python may not be flawless, if we look at its future and consider it as its emerging language, it's important to acknowledge that Java holds the present ground with its extensively utilized APIs.While considering these points of comparison between Java and Python provide insight into the coding landscape, they will not be enough to choose the right one. Therefore, it’s better to seek guidance from an esteemed web development company, Radixweb, to make a well-informed decision.