Glossary · Web & App Development
Kotlin
Overview
What Kotlin is
Kotlin is a statically typed language created by JetBrains that compiles to Java bytecode and runs on the JVM. It is fully interoperable with Java, so the two can be mixed in the same project and Kotlin can use any Java library. Its main draws are concise syntax, built-in null safety that prevents a common class of crashes, and modern features that reduce boilerplate.
Kotlin beyond Android
Google named Kotlin its preferred Android language in 2019, but the language reaches further. Kotlin Multiplatform lets teams share business logic across Android, iOS, web, and desktop, and server-side frameworks like Ktor and Spring Boot support Kotlin backends. It can also compile to JavaScript and native binaries, making it a flexible option across the stack.
How an agency uses Kotlin
For mobile app development, Kotlin is the default for new native Android apps and for adding native modules to cross-platform projects. On the server, it appears in backend development where teams want Java's ecosystem with safer, cleaner code. An experienced in-house team often pairs Kotlin and Java in one codebase, migrating gradually rather than rewriting everything at once.
Where we use it
Related Zen in Tech services
How our team puts Kotlin to work in real projects.
FAQ
Kotlin — common questions
Is Kotlin better than Java?
For new code, many teams prefer Kotlin because it is more concise and eliminates most null-pointer errors, while running on the same JVM. Java, however, has a larger talent pool and longer track record. Since they interoperate, it is rarely an either/or decision.
Should I use Kotlin or Java for Android?
Kotlin. Google recommends Kotlin-first for Android development, most new documentation and libraries target it, and it produces safer, shorter code. Existing Java Android code still works and can be migrated incrementally.
Can Kotlin and Java be used in the same project?
Yes. Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java, so classes written in each language can call one another freely. This lets teams adopt Kotlin gradually inside an existing Java codebase.
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