Difference between Python and Java. Which one to start as a beginner?

Difference between Python and Java. Which one to start as a beginner?

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4 min read

Introduction to Python:

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language. It is a widely used programming language, which is available on many platforms, and is open source. Python's design philosophy is based on a bias towards simplicity and a careful attention to the grammar and syntax of the language. Python is interpreted language so the program to be executed is converted into machine code as it runs, unlike a compiled language where you first compile the program and then run the program. This enables the programmers to write a program once and run it on many different systems without having to change the program.

Introduction to Java:

Java is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. Programmers write Java code once and can then run it on many different systems. Java code can be compiled into bytecode instructions that are not specific to any hardware or operating system. Java has become the dominant programming language for writing enterprise software, with a large majority of business-critical applications written in Java.

Core Differences between Python and Java:

There are some core differences between Python and Java. Let’s understand them in detail. Python is Interpreted Language and Java is a Compiled Language. In the case of interpreted languages, the source code written by the programmer is translated into machine language as the program runs. In the case of compiled languages, the source code is translated into machine language and saved as an executable file that can be run without requiring further translation. Both can be used for creating Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Syntax - Python has a much simpler syntax compared to Java. Python is a more concise language, uses fewer keywords and has fewer rules to follow compared to Java. Java is a strongly typed language, whereas Python is a loosely typed language. This means that if you make a programming mistake in Java, you get an error message, whereas in Python you get misleading results. Object-Oriented Programming - Python has been implemented as an Object-Oriented Language (OOP) from the beginning. Java was only designed as an OOP language with the release of version 1.2 in 1996. With Python, you can easily create classes with attributes and methods.

Differences in Keywords and Syntax:

Python has fewer keywords than Java. Since Python is a high-level language, it has some syntax that is very similar to English. This makes Python much easier to understand for beginners.

Differences in Object Oriented Programming (OOP):

Python is a dynamic language, and Java is a typed language. In OOP, it is important to define the data types of each variable. In dynamic languages, you are not required to define the data types, and this makes the language more flexible and easy to use. Python is a multi-paradigm programming language, and Java is a paradigm. A paradigm is a way of thinking that is specific to a particular field. Python supports OOP, functional programming, structured programming and imperative programming. In Java, OOP is the only important and structured programming. Java is a strongly-typed language, whereas Python is a loosely-typed language. In strongly typed languages, the programmer must explicitly specify the data type of each variable.

Differences in Looping and Conditional Statements:

Python supports all the conditional statements, such as if-else, for-else, while, etc., that are available in Java. In Python, you can use “if-else” to do the same thing you do in Java using “switch”. In Python, you can use “for-else” instead of “while”. For example, you can use “for-else” to write a program that calculates the sum of numbers from 1 to 100. However, in Java, you cannot use “for-else” for this purpose, and you must use “while”.

Conclusion:

This article discusses the difference between Python and Java. Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language. It is a widely used programming language, which is available on many platforms, and is open source. Python's design philosophy is based on a bias towards simplicity and a careful attention to the grammar and syntax of the language. Java is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. If you are a developer and are looking for a language to start with, we suggest you go for Python as it is more recommended for beginners.

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