Kotlin is a modern, statically typed programming language developed by JetBrains (the company behind IntelliJ IDEA) and first released in 2011. In 2017, Google announced Kotlin as an official language for Android development, and in 2019 declared it the _preferred_ language for Android, a massive endorsement that drove Kotlin's adoption across the industry.
Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java, you can call Java code from Kotlin and vice versa, use Java libraries, and mix Kotlin and Java files in the same project. Kotlin's key improvements over Java include null safety (eliminating NullPointerExceptions at compile time), extension functions, data classes, coroutines for async programming, and significantly less boilerplate code.
What is Kotlin used for?
Kotlin is used for Android app development, the majority of new Android apps are written in Kotlin, server-side development with Ktor and Spring Boot (both have first-class Kotlin support), multiplatform development via Kotlin Multiplatform (sharing business logic between Android, iOS, and web), and scripting with Kotlin scripts (.kts files). Jetpack Compose, Google's modern Android UI toolkit, requires Kotlin.
Kotlin for beginners
Kotlin is an excellent language for Android development beginners and for Java developers making the transition to a more modern language. Its null safety prevents the most common class of Android crashes, and its concise syntax reduces boilerplate significantly. Use myCompiler's online Kotlin compiler to practice Kotlin syntax, data classes, extension functions, and coroutines without installing Android Studio or the JDK.
Kotlin vs other languages
Compared to Java, Kotlin is more concise, has built-in null safety, and is the preferred language for Android development. The two are fully interoperable on the JVM. Compared to Swift (iOS counterpart), Kotlin and Swift share many modern language features (optionals/null safety, closures, data classes/structs), Android/Kotlin and iOS/Swift are parallel career paths. Compared to Dart/Flutter, Kotlin targets Android natively while Flutter is a cross-platform framework.
Why use an online Kotlin compiler?
An online Kotlin compiler, also called a Kotlin playground or JVM sandbox, lets you compile and run Kotlin code directly in your browser without installing Android Studio or the JDK. This is ideal for learning Kotlin syntax, practicing data classes and extension functions, understanding coroutines, and preparing for Android or Kotlin backend interviews.
myCompiler's online Kotlin IDE runs Kotlin on the JVM with the full Kotlin standard library and access to Java's standard library. Coroutines, data classes, sealed classes, and all modern Kotlin features are supported. Save and share programs via URL, completely free.
Why is Kotlin so popular?
Kotlin's rise is primarily driven by Android's official endorsement. With Android running on billions of devices and Google making Kotlin the preferred language, every Android developer now works in Kotlin. Beyond Android, Kotlin's clean syntax and JVM interoperability have made it popular for server-side development. The Kotlin Multiplatform initiative aims to extend Kotlin to iOS, web, and desktop, which could significantly broaden its reach.
Kotlin career opportunities
Kotlin is essential for Android developer roles and increasingly sought for backend developer, full-stack developer, and Kotlin Multiplatform developer positions. Android development demand remains strong as mobile apps continue to be central to business strategy. Combined with Jetpack Compose knowledge, Kotlin expertise is one of the most in-demand mobile development skill sets.