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Difference between Java and Python

Updated Jan 12, 2020

If you are here to read about which one is better between Java and Python, I am not going to tell which one is better. Instead, I am going to talk about the difference between java and python. After reading the article, it shall be up to the reader to interpret which one is better according to their requirements. Java and Python are different from many perspectives. Some of the differences are objective, and we can’t debate upon them, and some are a matter of opinion and what users prefer.

Let’s first get a brief knowledge of both the programming languages. Then we shall discuss the areas of differences. Java and Python are the two most popular and influential language presently.

Python vs Java

What is Python?

Python is an object-oriented, high-level, interpreted programming language. It boasts of dynamic semantics. Python is very useful for Rapid Application Development because of its features of dynamic typing, built-in data structures, dynamic binding, etc.

  • It is also used as a glue/ scripting language for connecting Python components.
  • Easy to learn and to have a simple syntax, Python incurs low program maintenance costs and imparts high readability.
  • It utilizes packages and modules to encourage code reusability and program modularity.
  • The standard library and interpreter in Python can be freely distributed and used free of charge on all major platforms.
  • The debugger is coded in Python itself, thereby adding testimony to Python's introspective powers.

Pros of Python:

  1. Python is more helpful for short programs/prototyping, while Java comes in handy for mission-critical/ big projects.
  2. Python is faster to prototype when compared to Java.
  3. Python has the edge over Java in context to functional programming, and tuple return values list formatted as first-order primitives, "duck" typing, console for easy debugging, etc.

Cons of Python:

  1. Python is not as scalable as Java when it comes to coding large-sized projects.

What is Java?

Java refers to a class-based, concurrent, general-purpose, object-oriented, high-level programming language. It comprises the runtime environment (JRE) consisting of JVM that is the core of the Java platform.

  • Similar to C++, in many ways, Java presents advanced/simplified features. It is capable of running on most platforms and can be accessed free of charge.
  • In Java, the feature of concurrency allows users to execute many statements rather than running them sequentially.
  • Java is an independent programming language that, once written, can be run on any platform that’s supportive of Java.
  • Java is a popular computing platform that allows for the secure development of applications.

Pros of Java:

  1. Java is useful for complicated data structures, very lengthy programs, mission-critical services, etc.
  2. In contrast to Python, Java presents static typing that helps it manage large code scales dextrously.
  3. Python presents AttritbuteError: None while dealing with "toolkits" necessary for re-use and for implementing a wide gamut of functionality. Java can handle such processes with flair.
  4. Java is more readable and verbose than Python. Its tools and IDEs, such as Eclipse, IntelliJ, NetBeans, etc., are impressive in design and functionality alike.

Cons of Java:

  1. Java is statically-typed, while dynamic typing is an essential feature of Python.

Java vs. Python Salary

Here comes the most exciting part. Though both java and python are quite famous and in-demand in recent times, there has been a growth in the demand of python engineers. So the demand and supply formula does its work here as the experienced java engineers find it difficult to shift their priority from java to python. Increased demand for python engineers and less supply has led to the increment in the basic salary of python engineers. A fresher python engineer can expect up to 30000 to 35000 INR basic monthly salary while a fresher java engineer can expect up to 25000-30000INR basic monthly salary. But if we go for the experienced one, Java engineers who have more than five years of experience can expect up to 65000 INR average monthly salary. In contrast, python engineers get less compared to Java engineers. The average salary of experienced python engineers is 60000 INR.

Beginners sometimes get confused if it comes to choosing between these two:

So let’s start analyzing the difference between python and java based on the following choices.

Python vs. Java

WhiteSpaces

  • Whitespace or Negative Space refers to the unmarked/blank/empty parts of a webpage. In context to web pages designed in Python and Java, whitespaces refer to the areas present in between images, text, margins, graphics, columns, other elements, etc.
  • Whitespaces smooth things out as well as provide an elegant appearance to any given web page in the most simplistic of ways. They are interspersed with graphical and text elements and skilfully deliver direct and clear messages.
  • Whitespaces are useful in organizing elements and textual content and draw the attention of visitors to certain factors. A perfect example of white space usage lies on the homepage of Google, wherein the focus remains on Search, the essential feature of the page rather than other elements.
  • In Python, whitespace refers to characters used for providing spacing. They have an "empty" representation in this language. As per Python developers, whitespaces refer to tabs and spaces as well as specific exotic Unicode spaces( not so useful!).
  • isspace() is the default and in-built method utilized in Python for string handling. It returns “True” in call characters present in the string are whitespace characters, else, “False” is returned.
  • The java.lang.Character.isWhitespace() in Java is a method built-in Java by default. It determines whether any specified character (Unicode code point) is capable of being categorized as a white space as per its syntax.

DuckTyping

  • Duck typing in terms of programming languages like Python and Java refers to the application of a process called the duck test. This test is used for determining if an object is capable of being used for a specific/ defined purpose or not. In the case of regular typing, this suitability is best determined by the type of an object.
  • For instance, there may be two object types – Car and Person that are supportive of the action called “run.” However, the object type “car” also supports the method “refuel.” As long as only “run” is called upon to act on the objects, it does not make a difference whether the object type is a car or person. This is referred to as Duck Typing.
  • Python and Java are dynamically but robustly typed and genetic programming languages to write codes in. In Python, the codes are bound to the strongly typed objects right at the runtime.
  • However, there is an essential condition on the object type that refers to a name. It should support the operations needed for specific object instances present in a given program. The classes in Java and other object-oriented languages play the role of model concepts that are purely mental constructs. They present essential attitudes towards actual items of reality via duck typing and other allied methods.

Ease of Code

Though both the languages are easy to write when it comes to the length of the code, python gets the extra point here. Java consists of a long line of codes, while python has comparatively fewer lines, which make it very time effective. A shorter line of codes makes python easy to understand and write.

Let’s check it out from the example of the “hello world” shown below.

Java –

Public class Helloworld    
{             
Public static void main ( String []  args)                
{                     
System.out.printIn 

(“Hello World”);               
 
}                
}

Now let’s look at the example of Python

Print ( “Hello World” )

After seeing the examples above now, we can see that java took seven lines of code to write a “hello world” while python took only one to do the same.

Speed

  • Coming to the point of speed. Java is a compiled language and statically typed while Python is an interpreted language and dynamically typed. Determining the types of data at runtime makes Python slower one comparatively as the compiled code is faster to execute than interpreted code.

Portability

  • In the points of portability, Java takes away all the limelight. Java runs on JVM, i.e., java virtual machine, which can be found anywhere ranging from tiny j2ME phone to large infrastructures. Python isn’t easily portable.

Syntax

  • Let’s take a look at the importance of semicolon, curly braces, and indentation to differentiate between java and python.

    a) Use of semicolon- While java requires the use of semicolon at the end of the statement, python does not require anything like this. If you miss the semicolon in the java code, it will throw an error. While writing a statement in Python, the semicolon isn’t used to end the code.

    b) Curly Braces and Indention - to run a Java code, curly braces are a compulsory one while indention isn’t required. But in the case of python, it is totally the opposite of Java. In the case of python, indention is a must and curly braces break the code.

Database

  • Java database connectivity, i.e., JDBC, is indeed more popular and widely used. When we talk about python, its access layers are weaker than java’s JDBC. This is the primary reason why it is rarely used in enterprises.

Legacy

  • If we talk about legacy, Java has an extra edge here. It has a vast history in the enterprises, and its more verbose coding style makes it typically more extensive and more numerous than python. Due to less legacy, copy-pasting codes become very difficult for organizations.

Conclusion

Though both Java and Python are famous in their own right, they have individual differences and similarities to their name. When it comes to serving at the community level, Java ranks on top of the list of large corporate sponsors. The support for Python is more or less distributed. Belonging to the Algol-type family of languages, Python uses whitespace sets that have a different syntax than Java; it is set apart from the same in terms of mainstream usage. On the other hand, Java gains familiarity as it boasts of C-like inclusions of braces, semi-colons, commas, etc.

After seeing the above differences, users can choose one language as per their requirements and preferences. If one wants a simple and easy to write code with data science requirements, he/she should prefer Python; otherwise, java may be a perfect choice.


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