File:Kotlin_logo_(2025).svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
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Sign in to saveKotlin () is a cross-platform, statically typed, general-purpose high-level programming language with type inference. Kotlin is designed to interoperate fully with Java, and the Java virtual machine (JVM) version of Kotlin's standard library depends on the Java Class Library. However, type inference allows for more concise syntax. Kotlin mainly targets the JVM, but also compiles to JavaScript (e.g., for frontend web applications using React) or native code via LLVM (e.g., for native iOS apps sharing business logic with Android apps). JetBrains bears language development costs, while the Kotlin
Kotlin is a modern programming language created by JetBrains that runs on the Java Virtual Machine while also supporting compilation to JavaScript and native code, making it useful for building applications across different platforms. It matters because it offers a more concise and user-friendly alternative to Java while maintaining full compatibility with existing Java code, allowing developers to write cleaner software more efficiently.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Programming language.name
- Kotlin
- Programming language.logo size
- 230px
- Programming language.paradigms
- Multi-paradigm: object-oriented, functional, imperative, block structured, generic, reflective, concurrent
- Programming language.designer
- JetBrains
- Programming language.developer
- JetBrains
- Programming language.typing
- Inferred, static, strong
- Programming language.platform
- Android JVM iOS, iPadOS (tier 1); tvOS, watchOS (tier 2 support) macOS (with tier 1 support for Apple silicon) Linux Windows JavaScript (Kotlin/JS) WebAssembly (and WASI) in beta support LLVM (Kotlin/Native)
- Programming language.operating system
- Cross-platform
- Programming language.license
- Apache 2.0
- Programming language.file_ext
- .kt, .kts, .kexe, .klib
- Programming language.influenced
- V (Vlang)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Official website
- kotlinlang.org
Show 11 more facts
- publication date
- 2016-02-15
- Stack Exchange tag
- stackoverflow.com/tags/kotlin
- file extension
- kts
- social media followers
- 87700
- source code repository URL
- github.com/JetBrains/kotlin
- inception
- 2011-07-22
- Commons category
- Kotlin (programming language)
- official demo URL
- play.kotlinlang.org
- software version identifier
- 2.3.0
- official blog URL
- blog.jetbrains.com/kotlin
- issue tracker URL
- youtrack.jetbrains.com/issues/kt
Sources (15)
via Wikidata · CC0
~19 min read
Article
30 sectionsContents
- History
- Name
- Development
- Design
- Syntax
- Procedural programming style
- Main entry point
- Extension functions
- Scope functions
- Unpack arguments with the spread operator
- Destructuring declarations
- Nested functions
- Classes are final by default
- Abstract classes are open by default
- Classes are public by default
- Primary constructor vs. secondary constructors
- Sealed classes
- Data classes
- Kotlin interactive shell
- Kotlin as a scripting language
- Null safety
- Lambdas
- "Hello world" example
- Tools
- Kotlin Multiplatform
- Adoption
- Applications
- See also
- References
- External links
Kotlin () is a cross-platform, statically typed, general-purpose high-level programming language with type inference. Kotlin is designed to interoperate fully with Java, and the Java virtual machine (JVM) version of Kotlin's standard library depends on the Java Class Library. However, type inference allows for more concise syntax. Kotlin mainly targets the JVM, but also compiles to JavaScript (e.g., for frontend web applications using React) or native code via LLVM (e.g., for native iOS apps sharing business logic with Android apps). JetBrains bears language development costs, while the Kotlin Foundation protects the Kotlin trademark.
On 7 May 2019, Google announced Kotlin had become its preferred language for Android app developers. Since the release of Android Studio 3.0 in October 2017, Kotlin has been included as an alternative to the standard Java compiler. The Android Kotlin compiler emits Java 8 bytecode by default (which runs in any later JVM), but allows targeting Java 9 up to 24, for optimizing, or allows for more features; it has bidirectional record class interoperability support for JVM, introduced in Java 16, considered stable as of Kotlin 1.5.