Kotlin

Modern JVM language for Android, backend, and multiplatform apps with concise syntax.

Overview

Kotlin is a concise, statically-typed programming language developed by JetBrains that runs on the Java Virtual Machine and compiles to JavaScript and native code. It is designed to be more expressive and safer than Java while maintaining full interoperability with existing Java code.

The language supports multiple development paradigms including object-oriented and functional programming. Kotlin is the official language for Android development since 2019 and is widely used for backend services, multiplatform mobile applications, and desktop development. Over 50% of professional Android developers use Kotlin as their primary language, and apps built with Kotlin are 20% less likely to crash according to Google's internal data.

Kotlin Multiplatform enables developers to share code across iOS, Android, backend, web, desktop, and other platforms while maintaining native performance and user experience. The ecosystem includes modern frameworks like Ktor for backend development, Jetpack Compose for UI, and Compose Multiplatform for cross-platform interfaces.

Key features

Concise syntax with less boilerplate
Full Java interoperability
Multiplatform compilation (JVM, JavaScript, Native)
Coroutines for asynchronous programming
Null safety and type inference
Jetpack Compose for modern UI development
Kotlin Multiplatform for code sharing
Seamless IDE integration with IntelliJ and Android Studio

Pros

20% fewer crashes than Java-based apps
Official Android language since 2019
Easy to learn, especially for Java developers
Strong community with 95% of top 1000 Android apps using Kotlin
Mature ecosystem with robust tooling
Enables code sharing across multiple platforms

Cons

Compilation time can be slower than Java
Smaller ecosystem compared to Java
Learning curve for functional programming concepts
Requires JVM or compilation to other targets

Use this if

You need a modern, expressive language for Android development, backend services, or cross-platform applications. You want to leverage code sharing across multiple platforms while maintaining native performance. You're migrating from Java and want better syntax and safety features.

Skip this if

You need a language with the largest ecosystem and community support (Java/Python). You require guaranteed backward compatibility with older Android versions. You prefer dynamically-typed languages.

Best for

Android developmentBackend services with Spring or KtorMultiplatform mobile applicationsCross-platform desktop applicationsAI-powered applicationsTeams migrating from Java

Alternatives

JavaSwiftPythonGoRustTypeScript

Compare Kotlin alternatives

More Language

Compare all

Zig

Low-level language aiming to be a modern, simpler alternative to C for systems code.

Google's compiled language for simple, fast systems programming and cloud-native services.

JavaScript

The web's core programming language for interactive pages, apps, and full-stack development.

HTML5

Standard markup language for structuring web pages, media, and semantic content.