Why Does Java Remain So Popular?

Next year, 2020, will mark the 25th anniversary of the Java programming language. One of the most widely used programming languages, Java is used as the server-side language for most back-end development projects, including those involving big data and Android development.

Java is also commonly used for desktop computing, other mobile computing, games, and numerical computing. The popularity of Java is further evidenced with 90% of all Fortune 500 companies using Java.

So how popular is Java? Very.

The TIOBE Programming Community publishes an index showing the popularity of programming languages. The index is updated several times per year. The top ten programming languages, per the latest report, are shown below.

Note that Java has consistently held the number-one slot in the index since 2004!

Top 10 Programming Languages

Why Do Software Developers Use Java?

The portability of Java contributes to its wide use and popularity, but there are other reasons why software developers continue to choose Java.

Since it is an object-oriented language; it’s robust, secure and relatively simpler and easier to learn than languages such as C and C++.

Object-oriented languages make complex problems easier to solve and provide greater modularity. This is a natural and pragmatic approach for software design. Java objects encapsulate data and behavior so that code can be reused, which makes testing and troubleshooting easier.

With Java, objects are created using classes that define the attributes (data) and behaviors (defined by methods coded in the class). Java features such as inheritance further contribute to simplified code. With inheritance, similar but different types of objects are simplified by inheriting common attributes and behaviors from the parent class. This allows reuse of the common code while allowing for differences

How to Learn Java Programming

If you’re a developer, you’ll find that time invested in learning more about the Java programming language is time well-spent.

Consider training from the source with Oracle University’s Java curriculum.

Then validate your new knowledge and skills by earning an Oracle Java Certification.

At Oracle University, we have recently launched two new Java SE 11 courses:

Java SE: Programming I

This entry-level course is aimed at programmers who are new to Java and who need to learn its concepts, language constructs, and data types. Explore exception handling, lambda expressions, and modular programming.

Java SE: Programming II

This is a second-level course for people learning the Java language. It provides the additional key skills needed by Java programmers. This course uses today's main Java version for its practices (currently Java 11).

How to Start a Career in Java Programming

With booming demand across industries worldwide, professionals who not only learn Java, but are formally trained and certified, can set themselves up for a promising, challenging, and rewarding career. 

NEW Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 11 Developer Certification!

Having an up-to-date Java certification shows employers (and peers) you have the latest skills and knowledge of the technology.  

Become Certified as Java SE 11 Developer

As an Oracle Certified Professional, you gain skills in modular programming, precise and secure coding management, and have the knowledge of all the latest new features and functionality in Java technology. Bring to the job market your valued skills with Java SE 11. 

Download the Java SE 11 Training and Certification Guide

Whether you’re starting out learning Java or looking to distinguish yourself with the latest skills, find your path in the guide. Once you select your path click on the recommended training or exam titles to view more details.

Get ready to position yourself and show off how ready you are for new opportunities. Share your Oracle certified digital badge to your LinkedIn Profile, Facebook Page or Twitter account to validate your professional and technical expertise.

Boost Your Career Opportunities as a Java Developer

From its beginnings more than 22 years ago Java has gone from strength to strength, and today it still occupies the most popular and also most in-demand position for programming languages.

Widely viewed by the developer community as the most reliable language, Java enables developers to create software that is compatible with different operating systems. In addition, its stability, depth of features, predictability and strong community have made it a business favorite the world over.

There are currently estimated to be more than 9 million Java developers in the world, with its popularity and usage continuing to grow – providing strong indications of Java’s importance in the years ahead and the need for highly trained Java programmers to support the future business world. 

Java’s flexibility to span industries

Compared to other languages, Java is not only easy to learn, but also easy to use, write, compile, and debug. Its simplicity has helped increase its global prevalence. Java is currently leading the pack in both the Android mobile application development market and the enterprise back-end market.

Career opportunities in Java span a wide variety of roles and industries. All of the 500 companies on the Fortune 500 list use Java to a great extent: building application servers, web applications, unit tests, mobile applications, desktop applications and enterprise applications.

Yet this doesn’t begin to cover the incredible range of things you can do with Java. For example, many developers use Java to create games and tutorials and, due to its compatibility, Java often figures into cross-language development, meaning that your Java experience can be extremely useful even if you’re not writing pure Java applications.

Looking for a really exciting career using Java?

Well, how about exploring space with NASA?

The agency uses Java for various space missions and also a number of interesting applications, including World Wind, a software development kit (SDK) that lets you zoom in from outer space and examine any location on earth.

Want to go into the movie business? Special effects firms such as Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) rely on Java for all sorts of software-based wonders, including sequencing animation scenes.

Perhaps you’re interested in saving people’s lives and improving healthcare? Projects like Doctor Online rely on Java for medical chatbots and application modules which enable faster, smoother doctor-patient interactions and empower doctors to make house calls virtually.

Java also plays a key role in high performance applications like self-driving cars and is used to build many of the world’s most popular video games and wearable technology applications.

In the cloud, Java is useful not only for creating new applications or moving existing applications to the cloud, but its proven ability to work anywhere fits perfectly into the modern mix of cloud, mobile, and desktop applications. These applications need to function the same way no matter where they happen to be running.

The Internet of Things also leverages Java in various industrial and domestic smart devices, for example for tracking inventory or measuring the temperature and humidity.

Java is now so popular and widespread that there is no shortage of ways for you to find fun and fascinating work.

Building your Java career and salary

Across all domains, corporations are scurrying to attract top IT talent - and Java developers in particular. The demand for trained and certified Java professionals has substantially increased salaries for jobs associated with Java. 

According to Indeed.com, the average annual Java developer salary in the USA is now more than USD100,000, and growing.

And far from tying you down to a specific job role, developing Java programming skills is paramount for other business critical positions, such as a web developer, database administrator, Java architect, and IT or project manager.

The future looks bright for Java talent.

Upskilling for personal and professional success

While people who code in Java invariably find jobs almost immediately, the more education and certifications you have, the more appealing you appear to an employer. This not only means higher salary prospects for you, but a wider choice of positions and fields of work.

Oracle University’s Java curriculum has a variety of training formats to suit the needs and preferred learning method of any Java developer. Get trained by an instructor and interact with fellow developers in a classroom or via Internet in a virtual classroom.

Or if you prefer self-study, the Java Programming Learning Subscription will give you year-round access to hours of high-quality learning content that is constantly updated.