DEV Community

Cover image for 7 Top Programming Languages For Android App Development
sneha-321
sneha-321

Posted on

7 Top Programming Languages For Android App Development

Top Programming Languages

Can we imagine our lives without smartphones?

The answer to this would be a straight “No” as mobile phones have become an inseparable part of our lives and really helps in making our life way more comfortable.

We are dependent on them for every sort of activity from listening to music to setting our morning alarm, making a connection to the outside world to stepping out of our homes; it is used everywhere.
In recent times, there was a drastic increase in the use of mobile apps. According to a current mobile app development stat, the number of mobile users is expected to grow to 6.95 billion by the year 2020.

Well, if you are looking to create an Android application for your business and confused about which programming language to choose, you need not worry at all as in this article, I will be describing all the top programming languages for Android App Development.
There is a wide range of languages available for Android app Development. All the complete details about these languages are provided below to guide you in making an informed decision.

Android app development comprises the majority of the market for smartphones. According to Statcounter, in 2019, Android Owned About 75.5% of the global market share.

But deciding which language to start with requires understanding. Learning about different types of languages ​​provides you with an idea of ​​what kind of programming language you need to select for different types of apps.

While creating a mobile application, it requires a little guidance, and you can also avail mobile app development services in India for this purpose.

Here are the best seven programming languages for Android app development. Any of these languages can be an excellent choice for building Android applications. So, let’s get started!

Java

JAVA
Source

Java is the first language on the list of top Android app development. It is the most popular official language and extensively used option for Android development. Most of the Play Store apps are built with this programming language.

The primary reason behind this popularity by app development companies in India is that Google supports this programming language. Since its introduction in 1995, it has been used to develop a wide range of applications.

Java protects native code from memory leaks, and each platform in the Java language is used for compiling various tasks in Android app development.

The language is highly secure because nothing gets executed outside the JVM (Java Virtual Machine). It comes with a rich set of features that are regularly updated by oracle.

Java is a high-performance language where memory allocation space everything takes correctly.

Java plays a significant role in Android application development as the business logic is written in Java. Advanced Java knowledge is a plus point for developing android apps. With the knowledge of advanced Java, anyone can add new features and develop a secure application with great ease.

In addition to this, the Software Development Kit (SDK) maximizes its complexity in Java. Besides, the language also has a great online community for support in case you run into any problem. In a nutshell, it is a perfect language to develop an Android application.

Kotlin

KOTLIN
Source

Another popular and official Android programming language is Kotlin. Also, it is a popular cross-platform language.

The slight difference between Java and Kotlin is that Kotlin is much simpler for new programmers than Java. Therefore, it can be considered as an excellent option for Android app development.
Kotlin is a modern programming language, which tends to increase productivity and raise the level of happiness of the developer.

Modern features of the Kotlin language lets focus on the expression of ideas and write less code measurably.
By using this language, you will have to write less code than Java; thus making a room in the list of top programming languages for Android app development.

Due to Kotlin, a secure code is implemented, and therefore, the quality of the application improves. It offers various features that will guide you in avoiding typical programming errors.

C/C++

C/C++
Source

Next on the list is C/C ++. It is used for making Android applications by making use of the Android Native Development Kit (NDK). To support C / C ++ code for Android Studio, you have to use the NDK. You can use libraries that are written in C / C ++.

The debugging and powerful environments of C ++ facilitates you to develop a cross-platform mobile app for Android.

Many top mobile app development companies choose it for developing platform-independent mobile apps. One of the most significant benefits is coding is faster with C/C++ thanks to C++, not having a standard user interface.

As the execution of code is much faster in C++, it is great for low-level programming. The language is widely used for creating high-performance mobile applications and games.

C#

C#
Source

C# is an open-source programming language that is commonly referred to as one of the most versatile languages. It can prove to be an ideal option for Android app development.

C # also implements garbage collection so that the possibility of memory leaks is minimized. Also, it has a clean and simple syntax which makes coding relatively easier.

The C # developers make use of Xamarin to build native Android applications. Moreover, it is also used to create web applications, backend systems, mobile apps, and much more.

Previously, the C # makes use of the .NET Framework, which restricted it to the Windows platform only. However, this problem was handled by Xamarin.

Android, a cross-platform implementation of the Common Language infrastructure.

Now, with the help of the Xamarin. an android tool, it is easy to write native Android applications and share the code across various platforms.

Moreover, there are also other benefits of using Xamarin as a tool for C #, and that is its clean and straightforward syntax. This syntax makes it a much favorable programming language for writing code.

Python

PYTHON
Source

Python is one of the most popular and most accessible programming languages. It is an Object-Oriented, open-source, high-level programming language. The language is advantageous, dynamic, and is general-purpose as well.

Python can also be used for Android app development, although Android does not support native Python development. Several utilities facilitate you in creating Python applications and then turn them into Android packages that successfully run on the Android devices.

Python is a powerful language as it is much easier to code in python as compared to any other language. Because of its simple syntax, anyone can learn python in a very shorter duration and that’s what makes it a developer-friendly language.

Python’s motto is that there should be only one, better way of doing it. And this gives Python a much easier learning curve for new programmers.

There are several frameworks available that allow Python apps to be interpreted and run on Android.

One of the major benefits of Python is its portable nature. The language is compatible with multiple systems and platforms. Additionally, it helps in enhancing the Programmer’s Productivity and lets them scale even the most complex applications with great ease.

All these functionalities make Python a great choice among developers for making an android application. Kivy is the most popular and robust solution for this, which is an open-source Python library that is used to develop mobile apps by a Python development company.

It not only supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and iOS other than Android, but it is also developed in such a way that it encourages faster app development. Also, you can use it as a prototype tool and can do much in fewer lines of code.

Corona/LUA

CORONA/LUS
Source

Corona is a software development kit that is used to build Android applications by making use of Lua. To use it, you have to code in Lua. This is quite easy, and the entire SDK makes it even more comfortable.

It comprises two operational modes, named as Corona Simulator & Corona Native. Corona Simulator is used to create apps directly. On the other hand, Corona Native is meant to integrate Lua code with the Android Studio project to build apps by using the native attributes.

There are certain advantages of using the Corona SDK to develop Android apps as it allows developers to work on mobile apps with faster speed. It has a simulator built-in, which means developers can see how the app or game is progressing.

Lua is a bit limited in comparison to other languages, but it is effortless and easy to learn. In addition to this, there are also monetization features and plugins that provide a great app development experience. Corona is widely used for creating games and graphics applications but is not limited to that only.

Another advantage of this SDK is that it supports every native library. Therefore, it allows developers to publish on different platforms.

PhoneGap(HTML, CSS, JavaScript)

PHONEGAP
Source

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can be used to develop the Android application by making use of the Adobe PhoneGap Framework. It allows the creation of Android apps by relying on the same code used to build websites.

The PhoneGap framework typically facilitates building hybrid applications by using web development skills that are displayed via “WebView” but are packaged like apps.

PhoneGap, as the name suggests, bridges the gap, giving Android app developers access to the phone’s features, such as a camera or accelerometer.

The Adobe PhoneGap framework is adequate for easy tasks in the Android app development, and it doesn’t need a lot of programming other than for JavaScript. Having said this, if only the basics are necessary, it may be the appropriate option for you.

Wrapping Up

The above article is describing the best programming languages ​​for Android app development. There are lots of apps like Music player, games, social media apps, and more that can be created using the above languages.

Well, it is totally up to you to make a selection of the right language, depending on your target and preferences for each project. Keeping all these languages ​​in mind, you can hire developers from India to stand out among the competition.

Top comments (1)

Collapse
 
mansi09876 profile image
Mansi09876

This is a great article on the top programming languages for Android app development! I appreciate the clear and concise breakdown of each language's benefits and drawbacks. As a developer who is just starting in Android app development, this article has provided me with valuable insights into the best languages to use.

I completely agree with the importance of choosing the right Android app development company to work with. The right company will have a team of skilled and experienced developers who can build high-quality apps that meet the user's expectations. It's also essential to consider the app's purpose and target audience when selecting a programming language. For example, Java is a popular choice for Android app development, but Kotlin's concise syntax and ability to reduce code size may make it a better choice for some projects.

Overall, this article provides a great starting point for anyone looking to develop an Android app. Thank you for sharing this informative post!