Python vs Java: Key differences, pros, and cons for developers 

Java and Python are both confidently sitting in the top ten most popular programming languages. Each is well-established, platform-independent, and part of a large and supportive community. And at this point, their similarities end. 

Java was launched in 1995 and is still widely used today. It’s a high-level programming language, similar to C++, and is known for its object-oriented approach and “write-once-run-anywhere” concept, which allows for fast, secure, and reliable performance.  

Python, on the other hand, is a dynamic general-purpose language that has gained popularity for its use in data analysis and automation. With its built-in data structures and dynamic typing and binding properties, Python is known for its rapid application development.  

In this article, we focus on the main features of these languages, point out what is the difference between Java and Python, and help you to figure out — is Python or Java better for mastering now? 

Java vs Python: Which is better for future 

Both Java and Python have a significant following in terms of popularity. According to the latest Stackoverflow Developer Survey, an impressive 51 percent of developers in 2024 preferred Python, while 30.3 percent opted for Java.  

However, there is another angle to notice: a five-year comparison of Java and Python’s usage differences reveals that Python is a steadily growing language while Java is a declining one. To understand this tendency, it’s vital to understand each language’s core characteristics, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s start from the basics. 

What is Python? 

Python is an object-oriented programming language. Since its initial release in 1991, It has focused on simplicity and readability of code. Over the years, this language has proven its incredible versatility in various areas. Currently, Python and its frameworks are commonly used for machine learning, image processing, multimedia applications, and numerous other purposes.  

Features of Python 

Python is a general-purpose and user-friendly language. It’s widely used for backend development and is a perfect choice for Rapid Application Development (RAD) for features like dynamic binding, built-in data structures, and dynamic typing. Python’s main features include the following: 

• It is easy to write and debug 
• A very simple syntax compared to Java, C, and C++ languages 
• Each function has its unique chunk of code 
• Supports both object-oriented and functional programming features 
• Runs on different OS 
• Has a vast collection of built-in libraries for browsers, images, documents, etc  
• Comes with numerous freely available pre-built libraries 
• It can be used for Machine Learning, Deep Learning and AI 

Advantages of Python 

The list of Python’s advantages starts with rapid development. As a dynamically typed language, it frees developers from defining variable types as they are defined at runtime, increasing flexibility and reducing development time. 

Python also offers cross-platform compatibility, which means its programs can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. 

Faster code changes. Python is an interpreted programming language, and its code is executed line-by-line at runtime, enabling real-time code revisions. 

Python works well for Data Analysis and Machine Learning applications. It offers ready-to-use libraries for numeric computing, data analysis, ML, and more. 

Disadvantages of Python 

Speaking of pitfalls, Python does not support multithreading. This characteristic impacts the performance of Python software, making it unable to utilize the full power of modern CPUs. 

Python can’t be used for native mobile app development. This is a relatively serious disadvantage, especially in the context of its comparison with Java. Mobile developers can still use Python with the help of specific libraries, such as PyQt, Kivy, and others, but unlike Java, Python can’t be used for building native mobile apps.  

Python offers slightly poor database connectivity. Its capabilities regarding database access often lack efficiency and require additional modules, such as MySQL Connector Python or PyMySQL. It can’t compete with the Database Connectivity API included in the Java Standard Edition platform. 

When to use Python? 

Python will be an ideal choice for businesses with the following in mind: 

• Systems built with multiple languages that require easy integration of new modules  
• Web applications on Django and Flask frameworks 
• Computer science, scientific, and numeric computing — Data Science, ML, AI 
• Solutions requiring high data accuracy, including image and text processing, algorithms 
• Data analysis and task automation services, such as generating reports and data visualizations 
• Agile development and fast time-to-market — Minimal Viable Product (MVP), Proof of Concept (PoC), and similar solutions 

What is Java? 

Java is a general-purpose programming language that appeared thirty years ago and gradually became one of the most demanded tools in software development. Most notably, it became the default language for Android app development. Android’s dominant position as the most popular mobile operating system is among the key factors that eventually promoted Java’s popularity. 

However, Java has plenty of uses besides mobile app development. This object-oriented language is a great choice for web development and has also proven its efficiency in Big Data and IoT applications. 

Features of Java 

Inspired by C and C++ languages, Java is great for highly interactive and responsive apps. Below is the list of its most prominent features: 

• It is a fully object-oriented language 
• Supports multiple open-source libraries 
• It uses static-typing syntax, which is easier and faster for compilation and less prone to errors than dynamic-typed one 
• Provides a multi-threaded environment that allows developers to perform several tasks at the same time  
• Goes with an array of easy-to-navigate libraries 
• Allows developers to form standard programs and reusable code 
• It runs on any platform, thanks to Java Virtual Machine (JVM) 

Advantages of Java 

Java is a platform-independent language, enabling developers to use the same source code across web, mobile, and desktop applications. 

It is a compiled language, which means a compiler translates its code into machine code, and errors are checked for at this stage, thereby minimizing bug occurrence. 

Java is statically typed, requiring developers to declare data types explicitly. This way, the program won’t run if data types are incorrect, increasing the stability of Java programs. 

Java is ideal for large-scale applications. It can handle an increasing workload and users without compromising performance. 

Disadvantages of Java 

However, even with such prominent advantages, Java has some significant flaws. Below are a few of them: 

• Java’s syntax is quite complex. It frequently uses curly braces and semicolons and is generally difficult to embrace. 
• It is challenging to master. Despite the abundant documentation and learning materials, it is more difficult to master than Python due to the abovementioned drawbacks.  
• Java apps may require additional memory. This language does not have an effective means of garbage collection. 
• Java is wordy; long lines of code are a notable characteristic of this language. 

When to use Java? 

And yet, there are cases and a lot of cases when Java will be the best choice — projects where stability and scalability are paramount. You should opt for it if your priorities include the following: 

• Streamlined app scalability and maintenance — CRM, ERP systems, for example 
• Real-time applications with a growing user base, such as chat, streaming apps 
• Highly secure systems like financial and governmental solutions 
• Large-scale web solutions 
• Desktop Graphical User Interface (GUI) apps 
• Game development 
• Native Android applications 
• Focus on speed and stability for enterprise, eCommerce, and trading systems 

Difference between Python and Java 

Syntax and coding style 

Syntax is the most noticeable difference between Java and Python. As mentioned before, Python focuses on readability and simplicity, so its syntax is easy to read and similar to that of human language. Java has more stringent rules that require extensive use of punctuation. Unlike Python, which uses indentation to indicate blocks of code, Java uses a lot of semicolons and curly braces.  

Coding speed 

Python is more concise and requires fewer lines of code to reach a result. It is dynamically typed, which additionally speeds up the coding process. Java is a statically typed language with a complex syntax, which slows down the speed of code writing. However, the presence of many libraries with ready-made solutions to many programming tasks makes coding in Java somewhat easier. 

App performance and stability 

Java is a compiled and interpreted language, which means that code needs to undergo the compilation process before it can be executed as a program. If there are errors in the code, the compilation will return errors and will not be completed successfully. Since Java programs are compiled and checked for errors before running, they generally perform better in terms of speed and stability than software written in Python. 

Python is an interpreted programming language. Unlike Java, its programs are not compiled in advance. This means that any errors in the Python code will show up at runtime, potentially resulting in a program crash.    

Learning curve 

Is Java harder than Python to embrace? Yes. Python is famous for being intuitive and simple, which makes it an ideal first programming language to learn. Java is relatively more complex than Python but easier than, for example, C++ and other older languages. Overall, Java is not extremely hard but requires certain experience and an understanding of programming principles.  

Even these days, numerous beginners choose Java as their first coding language, though it demands a bit more effort and dedication than Python to master. The abundance of learning courses, educational materials, community forums, and other sources of helpful information makes learning easier and more interactive. 

Machine learning libraries  

Python is considered the dominant language for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Its ecosystem boasts popular libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, which offer various algorithms and models for machine learning tasks. Python’s simplicity and extensive community support make it easier for beginners to start with machine learning. 

While Java also has machine learning libraries like Deeplearning4j and DL4J, it is not as widely used in the ML community as Python. Java’s strong suit lies in its ability to handle large-scale, enterprise-level machine learning applications, where performance and scalability are paramount. 

Python vs Java: Which is better? 

Is Python better than Java? Is Java better than Python? Drawing the bottom line, let’s conclude the following: if your top priority is development speed, opt for Python. If you prioritize stability over everything else, your choice should fall on Java. Java is better equipped to handle complex tasks, Python is clearer, easier, and simpler to read, write, and modify. This is the key difference between Python and Java.  

Surely, this is an oversimplification. Your choice should always depend on your individual needs, your budget, and the type of project you are working on. If you are in doubts and can’t figure out which one – contact us! After the initial consultation we will be able to find you skilled Java or Python developers, ready to bring your project to life.