But what makes Java different from other coding languages, like Python or (somewhat confusingly) JavaScript? Simply put, Java is most often used to code Android apps and back-end development projects (i.e. parts of the software that users cannot see) that span from laptops to supercomputers. Because Java has officially been around since 1996, it has been refined and developed to make it a high-performing, object-oriented coding language that's in high demand.
Whether you're completely new to computer science or have some prior coding or programming experience, there are online courses that can provide you with a free, thorough overview or an affordable professional certificate to add to your LinkedIn or resume.
9 online courses and programs to learn Java:
Learn Java (Codecademy)
Codecademy
Length: 25 hours
Cost: Free
Codecademy is a great resource for learning how to code, and the 11 courses in the "Learn Java" path take students from a simple introduction to Java to debugging and two-dimensional arrays. The courses also provide real practice with seven Java projects, like a basis calculator.
For those who are interested in Java but hesitant about spending money on a program right away, this free Udemy tutorial provides a detailed overview of the programming language along with recommended books and tests to check what you've learned so far.
The first course in the Java Programmer path on LinkedIn Learning, Learning Java offers bite-sized lessons to introduce Java to total coding beginners (to see if they like it) or catch experienced programmers quickly up to speed.
Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization (Coursera)
Christina Morillo/Pexels
Length: 5 months (4 hours per week)
Cost: Free with 7-day trial; $49 per month to keep learning after trial ends
This five-course program through Duke University walks you through the basics of web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to eventually having students build and program their own movie recommendation system as a final project.
Length: 4 months (6-8 hours per week) Cost: $402.30 for the full program; individual classes can be audited for free
Led by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, this three-course professional certificate program covers the basics of Java, including conditionals, loops, and recursion, to eventually help users build algorithms and data structures. The courses can also all be audited for free by clicking "View the course" under each one.
Introduction to Java and Object-Oriented Programming
Wikimedia Commons
Length: 17 hours Cost: Free with 7-day trial; $49 per month to keep learning after trial ends
Part of UPenn's specialization in Python and Java, this overview covers the basics of Java and how they differ from another popular coding language, Python. By the end of this three-class course, students will have a firmer understanding of static variables, static methods, and polymorphism.
Length: 10 weeks Cost: Free with 7-day trial; Pro membership $19.99 or $39.99 per month depending on the plan
Even if you have no prior coding experience, this relatively short course covers all the Java programming basics you need to know to build Android apps in Android Studio, Google's Android development environment.
Java Programming MasterClass for Software Developers (Udemy)
Wutthichai Luemuang/EyeEm/Getty Images
Length: Over 80 hours of video courses
Cost: $69.99 (Udemy often has big sales, so check back often if the price is too high).
Ideal for absolute beginners, this bestselling, in-depth course aims to prepare students for Java developer careers by preparing them for the Oracle Java certificate exam and helping them gain proficiency in Java 8 and Java 11.
Software Development with Python and Java (FutureLearn)
Christina Morillo/Pexels
Length: 12 weeks (4 hours per week)
Cost: Free with 7-day trial; $39 per month to keep learning after trial ends
Offered by the UK's Coventry University, this ExpertTrack introduces students to software development with courses in both Java and Python, teaching them how to code simple objects by the end of the third and final course.
Julia is a senior health reporter on Business Insider's health team, with expertise in psychology, relationships, parenting, and skin health. Her popular stories include an exploration of a dangerous Gen Z hookup trend, the costs of raising kids without grandparents there to help, and how therapy-speak texts ruin friendships. She's also published interviews with famed sex therapist Esther Perel and climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell. In 2023, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cited her story on the US sunscreen regulations in a TikTok advocating for looser FDA restrictions. Julia's work has also appeared on the New York Post, NPR's On Point, the podcast No Such Things, and the radio program The Jimmy Malone Show. Prior to that, Julia was an education and personal development editor on the BI Reviews team and a sex and relationships editor at Cosmopolitan and BuzzFeed, respectively.You can say hi to Julia at jpugachevsky@businessinsider.com or shoot her a DM on Twitter or Instagram (she is @jaypugz on both, but email really is the best way to reach her!)
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