Java Tutorial for Beginners: Learn Java Programming Step-by-Step

Updated: February 13, 2025 by Computer Hope

Introduction to Java Programming

Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, known for its versatility, portability, and ease of use. Developed by Sun Microsystems in the early 1990s, Java is widely used for building web applications, mobile apps (Android), enterprise software, and more. This tutorial is designed for beginners who want to learn Java programming from scratch.

Key Concepts of Java

Before diving into coding, let's understand some fundamental concepts of Java:

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Java is based on the concept of objects and classes. It supports encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.
• Platform Independence: Java programs are compiled into bytecode, which can run on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
• Case Sensitivity: Java is case-sensitive, meaning MyClass and myclass are treated as different identifiers.
• Comments: Use // for single-line comments and /* ... */ for multi-line comments to explain your code.

Your First Java Program

Let's write a simple Java program that prints "Hello World" to the console.

public class MyFirstJavaProgram {
    /* This is my first Java program.
     * This will print 'Hello World' as the output.
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello World"); // prints Hello World
    }
}

In this example:

• public class MyFirstJavaProgram: Defines a class named MyFirstJavaProgram.
• public static void main(String[] args): The main method is the entry point of a Java program.
• System.out.println("Hello World");: Prints the text "Hello World" to the console.

Mandatory Tools for Java Development

To start coding in Java, you'll need the following tools:

• Hardware Requirements: A Pentium 200-MHz computer with at least 128 MB of RAM.
• Operating System: Linux 7.1 or Windows 95/98/2000/XP.
• Java Development Kit (JDK): Download and install the latest version of JDK from the official Java website or AdoptOpenJDK.
• Text Editor: Use Microsoft Notepad or any other text editor like Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, or Eclipse.

Steps to Write and Run a Java Program

1. Download and install the JDK.
2. Set up the PATH environment variable to include the JDK's bin directory.
3. Open a text editor and create a new file with a .java extension (e.g., MyFirstJavaProgram.java).
4. Write your Java code in the file and save it.
5. Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where the file is saved.
6. Compile the Java program using the javac command:

   javac MyFirstJavaProgram.java

7. Run the compiled program using the java command:

   java MyFirstJavaProgram

Conclusion

This tutorial provides a fundamental introduction to Java programming. As you progress, you can explore more advanced topics such as:

• Data Structures: Arrays, collections, and linked lists.
• Exception Handling: Managing errors and exceptions in your code.
• File I/O: Reading from and writing to files.
• Multithreading: Running multiple threads concurrently.
• Java Libraries: Leveraging Java's extensive standard library for advanced functionality.

Practice coding regularly, work on small projects, and explore Java's vast ecosystem to become proficient in Java programming. Best of luck on your coding journey!