Latest Tech Trends and Insights | Clarion Tech

Java vs Python: Which Programming Language is Best

Written by Vinit Sharma - Technical Architect | Aug 17, 2023 7:56:24 AM

Blog overview: Our this blog post creates a Java vs Python review for web developers. Learn what each of the two’s pros and cons are and which one takes the crown for your next project. Clarion Technologies helps you make sense of this pivotal decision. Continue reading for an informed choice that takes your web development game to another level.

Do you find yourself in the conundrum of which programming language to choose, weighing the pros of Python versus Java? There are various important considerations to be weighed when determining the best programming language for your organization’s needs. Read on for a complete comparison of Python vs. Java and make an informed decision.

In web development, programming language is very important, and it defines what strategy developers will use on a given web project. With popular programming languages like Python and Java, the decision of programming language can be complicated when developing a website. Java, known as a general-purpose, class-based, object-oriented programming language, has not been slow to offer a rich set of features for performance and speed. Conversely, Python is interpreted, high-level, and dynamically typed, which contributes to the phenomenon being very productive due to its simplicity, scalability, and readability of the code.

So let’s jump into this article and give a quick rundown of each language. We can compare the basic concepts of each, but first, let’s see if they’re popular.

Java vs Python: Popularity

Java vs Python: Popularity Comparison

Source: Stack Overflow

StackOverflow Trends (the graph above) noted an upsurge in the popularity of Python among developers. Statista also reported that as of 2025, Python holds the third spot in terms of usage when considering the most-used programming languages globally. Java sits at seventh place with a popularity percentage standing at 30.55%. This makes many developers prefer Python when undertaking software development and data analysis-related activities.

Java vs Python: Popularity Comparison

According to StackOverflow Trends (the graph above), there has been a notable surge in Python's popularity within the developer community. Additionally, the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey reveals that Python has secured the fourth position among the most popular programming languages worldwide as of 2025. In contrast, Java ranks seventh with a popularity of 29.4%. Consequently, numerous developers lean towards Python for software development and data analysis-oriented tasks.

Source: 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey

Let's delve into the enduring discourse surrounding Python versus Java in web development, meticulously examining their respective advantages and drawbacks, with a particular focus on their primary distinctions.

What is Python?

Python, created by Guido van Rossum, is a high-level interpreted object-oriented programming language with dynamic semantics. It was officially released in 1991. Readability, dynamism in typing, and garbage collection are features that characterize Python.

Different paradigms of programming, such as object-oriented, structured, and functional programming, can be found within Python. Mostly preferred for Rapid Application Development because of its built-in data structures, together with dynamic typing and binding.

Python is known for its approach toward being easy for learners to pick up and use, allowing powerful complexity management so that new users will not need to learn much detail at first. Python frameworks fall neatly into three categories: Full Stack Framework, Microframework, and Asynchronous Framework.

#1. Features of Python


#2. Python for Web Development: Advantages and Challenges

Python is used as a flexible instrument in creating different types of applications, among which are web solutions. Let’s look at some strong reasons why developers prefer using Python instead of Java for developing websites. The main advantages of using Python for web development include:

  1. Easy syntax: The syntax of Python is very easy; hence, it’s good for writing, maintaining, and debugging code, especially when working on big projects. Also, beginner developers can take its simple nature to easily and quickly understand the basic concepts of programming.

  2. Dynamic typing: It means variables can hold any type of data assigned during run time, which eases the process of coding and reduces the time consumed in type-checking codes. Since Python is an interpreted language, code can be executed immediately without needing a separate compilation step, as is required in Java. Secure Library and Ecosystem: Due to its huge community of developers who are actively working on it, there is much support, resources, and tutorials easily available online. Flask and Django are just a couple of its large ecosystem of frameworks to mention when you need fast yet robust web application development.

While Python's extensive community support, intuitive syntax, and execution speed offer numerous advantages for web development, it's essential to acknowledge some challenges, including:

  1. Potential runtime errors: Despite the convenience of dynamic typing, it may result in runtime errors if the variable's data type differs from what was anticipated. Managing such errors, especially in large projects with numerous variables, demands meticulous testing and debugging when you hire Python coders.

  2. Performance constraints: As an interpreted language, Python's performance may not match that of compiled languages like Java, posing limitations for large-scale web applications.

#3. When to use Python?

Python finds utility in various domains including web development, software development, task automation, data visualization, and data analysis. Due to its user-friendly nature, Python has garnered popularity among beginners and non-programmers, such as scientists and accountants, who employ it for data management tasks.

Python is applied in:

  • Data analysis, data visualization, and machine learning
  • Software development and web development
  • Automation or scripting
  • Software testing and prototyping

What is Java?

Java is a high-level programming language by classes and objects. It runs mainly at the side of servlets for web development. The original creators of Java were Sun Microsystems developers. They offered a principle known as "write once, run anywhere" to software engineers. As time passes, simple text pages evolve into pages that include both video and animation.

#1. Features of Java

#2. Java for Web Development: Advantages and Challenges

A good way to compare Java vs. Python for web development is by looking at the advantages and challenges of each. Below are some of the advantages that make Java very popular in web development:

  1. Strong typing: It is a strongly typed language. That means variables declare their data type explicitly at the time of creation. This helps in finding errors at the initial stage of development.

  2. Scalability: Java has easily been referred to as a language for large-scale web applications because it inculcates scalability. Its class-based inheritance structure, with the provision made for multithreading plus dynamic linking, makes it easy to create and implement complex yet scalable web applications.

  3. Thriving community and robust support: Java has a large, vibrant developer community. In fact, it is one of the top three programming languages that recruiters will be searching for in 2025, along with Python and JavaScript. Also, a Java web development services company makes use of its vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that help to ease the process of web application development. 

While the benefits are apparent, it's essential to acknowledge the existing challenges, which can influence the Python versus Java for web development decision:

  1. Complexity and verbosity: Java is very verbose. Readability becomes an issue when dealing with a project that has many classes and methods. Complexity may also be an issue when dealing with legacy code or infrastructure to manage.

  2. Large-scale applications can hamper performance: The more resource-hungry the web solution gets, the greater the hit Java will take on performance in complex applications. This is a hurdle for large-scale web projects.

#3. When to use Java?

Java, being an open-source and adaptable language, finds application in developing both localized and distributed software, including:

  • Game Development
  • Cloud Computing
  • Big Data
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • IoT Applications
  • Chatbots and Other Marketing Tools

Difference Between Python and Java

Here are the primary distinctions between Java and Python.

Criteria

Java

Python

Compilation

Compiled into bytecode, executed by the Java Virtual Machine

Interpreted, executed line by line

Static or Dynamic

Statically typed

Dynamically typed

String Operations

Requires explicit methods for string manipulation

Supports concise and intuitive string operations

Learning Curve

Moderate learning curve, especially for beginners

Easy to learn and use, suitable for beginners

Multiple Inheritances

Supports single inheritance with interfaces

Supports multiple inheritances

Braces vs. Indentation

Uses braces ({ }) for code blocks

Uses indentation for code blocks

Speed

Generally faster due to bytecode compilation

Generally slower compared to Java

Portability

High portability across platforms and operating systems

High portability, but less strict due to its interpreted nature

Read File

Requires explicit file handling methods

Provides concise methods for reading and writing files

Architecture

Follows a multi-threaded architecture

Supports multi-threading, but may not be as robust as Java

Backend Frameworks

Spring Boot, Hibernate, Struts, etc.

Django, Flask, Pyramid, etc.

Machine Learning Libraries

Limited native support; requires third-party libraries

Rich ecosystem with libraries like TensorFlow, Scikit-learn

Game Development Engines

Popular for Android game development with tools like Android Studio

Less common in game development, but supports engines like Pygame

Famous Companies

Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter

Instagram, Spotify, Dropbox, Pinterest

Best Features

Strong typing, performance, enterprise-level support

Easy syntax, versatility, rapid development

Best Use For

Enterprise applications, Android development

Web development, scripting, data analysis

Database Support

JDBC for database connectivity supports various databases

ORM frameworks like SQLAlchemy, support multiple databases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a comparative analysis of Java and Python against each other on the grounds of compilation, typing, string operations, ease of learning, inheritance, code structure, speed, portability, file handling, architectural paradigms, frameworks, and libraries, industries using them, and their notable features, plus use cases they are best for. Know which will be the top 10 Python Frameworks for web development in 2025.

Python vs Java: Which one is better?

Java and Python are strong coding tools with key uses and weak spots in web development. Big web apps that need fast work love to run on Java, but mid-size web tasks and quests leaning on data smarts and machine learning mostly sit better with Python.

The choice between Java and Python depends on project requirements, team expertise, and organizational goals. It requires more than a simple language shift for new web applications; insight works when shared with an expert remote team.

About to choose between Java and Python for your next web app? Contact Clarion Technologies for expert advice and tailored solutions. Our experienced team will assess your requirements and recommend the most suitable technology stack to move your project forward. Don't leave it to chance, reach out now, and let's build something great!