As of 2025, there are an estimated 1000+ programming languages. Out of those, Java is consistently one of the top 10 most popular.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holding one of the top 10 spots for the last few decades is impressive, but what is Java? Why is it so popular? Who uses it, and what do they do with it? In this article, we’ll do a deep dive into Java as a coding language for kids to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Java Coding is Used in Many Industries<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Java Coding is Used by Large Companies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Java Coding for Kids & Teens<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Examples of Java Code<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Learn Java Coding with Minecraft<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Paid & Free Resources to Learn Java Coding<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Java Classes for Kids<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other languages use a paradigm known as structured programming<\/em>. C++ and other early computer programming languages used structured programming. They rely on repeated blocks of code. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Object](\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Object-oriented-programming-example-1024x551.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nJava is an object-oriented<\/em> coding language. <\/strong>Object-oriented languages are more efficient in terms of the written code itself. Rather than using similar chunks of code over and over, they involve classes and objects that contain basic instructions. A class is a kind of template. An object is an instance of the template. A programmer can simply insert an object into the code. Since that object inherits its behavior from the class it belongs to (its template), there\u2019s no need to write code to make it work. It\u2019s ready to use immediately. That\u2019s a simplified explanation, but you can get into more detail about Java and object-oriented programming in our article about the differences between Java and JavaScript<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Java Coding is Used in Many Industries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Java is a powerful and popular language. It\u2019s responsible for at least some<\/em> of the functionality in most of the world\u2019s biggest, most powerful software products. According to the website Statista.com<\/a>, Java is the 7th most popular programming language in the world. It powers parts of YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon. In addition, software engineers use Java to build Android apps and games.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Java](\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/java_in_game_development.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIndustries that rely on Java include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Cybersecurity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cloud computing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Video games<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Financial services industry<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- E-commerce<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Many more!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Java is a valuable skill for people in many professions, such as engineering and science. Knowing how to code in Java can be beneficial for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- A game developer <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A meteorologist <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A data scientist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Java Coding is Used by Large Companies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Many of the biggest companies in the world rely on Java to power their products. These are companies such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Airbnb<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Amazon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ebay<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Google<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Instagram<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Meta<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Microsoft<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Netflix<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spotify<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Uber<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
People at these companies use Java to build Android apps, write code for web apps, create desktop software, and automate repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Java Coding for Kids & Teens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Java is a great language for kids to learn because it has staying power. It has been around since the early 1990s. That\u2019s a long time in the world of computers. Java also has a strong presence on the Internet plus a community of about 9 million developers. Java powers a lot of complex applications and isn\u2019t going away anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like many other STEM activities, learning to code in Java can help kids develop soft skills. <\/strong>The most important one, and certainly the one that takes the longest to master, is patience. Coding can be frustrating. You can spend hours working on a small part of a program without making much progress. Sometimes you end up going back several steps to rework something you thought you had already figured out. Perseverance and learning to stick with a problem are some of the reasons why kids should learn to code<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Programming in Java, or any language, also develops strong abstract thinking skills and creativity. There are often several ways of approaching and solving a problem. And finally, group classes and team projects help aspiring coders learn teamwork. Professional software developers often work in groups to plan their projects, write code, review their work, and fix problems. So, teamwork is one of the most crucial skills a software engineer can have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recommended: <\/em><\/strong>Coding Classes for Teens<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Java](\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/java_programming_boy.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAnother excellent reason for kids to learn Java is that it\u2019s used in the AP Computer Science A exam. This course is a helpful step for kids who want to pursue a college degree in computer science and kids who want to become professional software engineers. You can learn more about the exam in our article entitled How to Get a 5: Preparing for the AP Computer Science Exam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples of Java Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When software engineers and coders learn a new programming language, they usually start by building a simple program called Hello World. It\u2019s a simple program that prints the words \u201cHello World\u201d on the screen. Learning how to write this program in a new language, shows you the basic structure you need to get started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You won\u2019t be able to build anything you want just because you know how to write some words on the screen. But Hello World is a simple starting point for understanding a language\u2019s syntax and keywords. Consider this example in Java.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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class HelloWorldJava {\n\tpublic static void main(String[] args) {\n\t\tSystem.out.println(\"Hello, World!\"); \n\t}\n}<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nThis short bit of code can tell you a lot about Java. In the first line, you can see that the code in the following lines is going to be part of a class called HelloWorldJava. It\u2019s also clear that Java relies on curly brackets to contain the code for a class. The forward slashes and asterisks indicate comments. These are snippets of text that don\u2019t actually do anything. They exist just for the programmer\u2019s benefit, or the benefit of other programmers who may work on this code later. This code provides other information about how Java works, but let\u2019s skip to what it does. If you were to run this program, you\u2019d see this in the console:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hello, World!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice that these words have quotes around them in the code. But the quotes aren\u2019t there in the final results. That\u2019s another discovery you make when you learn to write a simple Hello World program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recommended:<\/em> 10 Best Kids Coding Languages<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn Java Coding with Minecraft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As you\u2019re about to find out, there are many, many ways for kids to learn Java. But, as the authors of the book Algorithms to Live By<\/em> say, the best strategy in life is usually to experiment early and narrow down your options later. This is good advice for just about anything, including coding. So let\u2019s look at some interesting ways to learn Java, starting with Minecraft<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minecraft is a video game that is unbelievably popular around the world. As of 2022, there are nearly 480 million players in the United States, China, and many other countries. Some of those players like to do something called \u2018modding\u2019. That\u2019s a term people use to talk about customizing a game with code. Minecraft players can do their modding with Java. YouTube is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to learn Minecraft modding with Java.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recommended: 10 Best Minecraft Mods for Kids<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paid & Free Resources to Learn Java Coding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Java\u2019s Website<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first stop for anyone who wants to learn Java should probably be the Java website at Java.com<\/a>. There are several helpful resources, and the site links to video tutorials, user groups, FAQs, and a podcast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Books<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Just because coding is a digital activity doesn\u2019t mean you have to limit yourself to digital ways of learning it. Books can be useful for anyone learning Java, although it\u2019s important to find out whether the content is up to date. Things change fast in the world of programming, so written materials can fall behind quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Java books written specifically for kids include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Java Programming For Kids ages 12-18<\/a>: A simple explanation of Java topics in a simple, concise way. It uses thorough examples and makes the learning process fun, informative and interesting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Java Programming for Kids<\/a>: Kids learn Java step by step and build their own interactive calculator. It’s a way to quickly and effectively learn the language, then create something fun, exciting, and awesome!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
No Starch Press <\/a>is a reliable source of instructional content about coding that is fairly accessible to young readers. In Easy Steps<\/a> is another publisher that offers simple, plain language writing about coding. Check out Java in Easy Steps<\/a> for a great introduction to Java programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Podcasts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You might not think it\u2019s possible to learn how to program in Java from a podcast. But you can do just that and a whole lot more. There are podcasts that guide listeners through Java step-by-step, podcasts that keep enthusiasts up to date with the latest Java-related news, and podcasts that discuss the process of becoming a professional Java developer. In fact, the makers of Java (Oracle) have their own podcast called Inside Java<\/em>! Here are some other noteworthy shows to check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- How to Program with Java:<\/a> This is a step-by-step guide to the Java programming language and is perfect for people who are just starting out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Java Easily Podcast:<\/a> Beginning programmers and people with some coding knowledge may enjoy this podcast, which focuses on professional Java development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These podcasts aren\u2019t aimed at kids, so it might be a good idea to give them a listen before sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Java Classes for Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve just looked at some of the different ways you can use Java, plus a few real-world examples of industries and professionals who work with it. Now is a good time to look at the question of the best way to learn Java for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Variety ensures that learning doesn\u2019t get boring, and there\u2019s plenty of it in the resources listed above. But variety also presents some challenges. The biggest is what psychologists call the paradox of choice. That\u2019s what happens when there are so many options that it\u2019s hard to choose just one. If you\u2019ve ever tried to learn a language on your own, you may have encountered this phenomenon. Maybe you\u2019ve tried to learn via a mobile app, and then switched to a website because it seemed better. Later you may have changed to books and workbooks, thinking they could be more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Online classes eliminate the uncertainty about what to study and how, especially for kids. They deliver a structured way to learn. The best online classes involve live instruction in a synchronous environment. That means students log in at the same time, learn together, and get feedback from an instructor in real time. Classes like these provide structure so students know exactly what to work on and when. An instructor helps kids understand the material. CodeWizardsHQ offers a summer Java track<\/a> that prepares kids for the AP Computer Science A class in high school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Java Easily Podcast:<\/a> Beginning programmers and people with some coding knowledge may enjoy this podcast, which focuses on professional Java development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Java Programming for Kids<\/a>: Kids learn Java step by step and build their own interactive calculator. It’s a way to quickly and effectively learn the language, then create something fun, exciting, and awesome!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Java Programming For Kids ages 12-18<\/a>: A simple explanation of Java topics in a simple, concise way. It uses thorough examples and makes the learning process fun, informative and interesting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Java Coding is Used by Large Companies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n