According to the TIOBE index, which ranks programming languages, Java is the third most popular language among programmers as of 2022. It is often the first language taught to computer science students because of its longstanding reliability and popularity in the industry.
Java is most commonly used to write applications (for mobile and desktop), develop websites, and create GUIs.
Ready to learn Java? We’ve put together a list of some of the best Java tutorials available online. Browse the list that fits your experience level and choose the one that suits you best!
Best Java Tutorials for Beginners
Codecademy
Codecademy may be the best free website for learning to code. On the homepage, you choose a language – in this case Java – and then pick a course path to follow. The most basic Java tutorial is simply called Learn Java.
This introductory course will guide you through the basic concepts of Java in sixteen lessons. Each lesson is further divided into about ten bite-sized sections that can each be completed in just a few minutes. Each section explains a concept in a few words, with examples, and then poses a practice problem for you to code in a built-in coding environment. When you’re done, the program checks your code and will allow you to move on if your answer is correct. If you get stuck you can pull up a hint or even reveal the final answer.
Codecademy’s Learn Java course is free! However, the website has additional content like career development courses and advanced subject-matter for a subscription of $19.99/month.
freeCodeCamp
freeCodeCamp (the name is stylized in camel casing like a coding variable) is a massive repository of coding tutorial videos uploaded by professionals. The videos cover everything from a full 9-hour beginners tutorial to highly specific subjects like declaring an array. Most freeCodeCamp tutorials include practice sessions but you will need to have Java installed on your computer to participate in these, unlike Codecademy, which allows you to write code straight into the webpage.
The best freeCodeCamp video for a comprehensive beginner Java tutorial is called Learn Java 8 – Full Tutorial for Beginners. The course starts with basic definitions and words to know for programming and makes its way through the essential variable and method types. The instructor speaks a bit slowly, but he pays great attention to detail and explains all programming concepts. If you have never written any code before, this tutorial is perfect for you.
You can browse courses on freeCodeCamp.com and review curricula before you start, but the best way to jump into learning is on the freeCodeCamp YouTube channel.
Udemy
Udemy has video tutorials on almost any subject you can imagine from finance to computer science to yoga classes. You can learn almost any coding language on Udemy. For Java in particular, there is a wide range of beginner to advanced video tutorials which range in price from totally free to over $100.
Since there is so much content on Udemy, there are filter options you can use to narrow down the options and find the right video for you. On Udemy you can filter by things like Paid/Free, Tutorial Length, Language, Sub-Category, and Difficulty. Since Udemy tutorials are made by many different creators, there is not a standard course format. Some tutorials include practice work, quizzes, and coding challenges.
Udemy tutorials are user-rated on a five-star rating scale. You can filter by rating to easily find the tutorials that have been most enjoyed by users. There are a handful of good beginner Java Tutorials that can be accessed for free. The one with the highest rating (4.6 stars) is called Java Programming Basics and consists of 17 lessons, which can be completed in just under 3 hours total.
W3Schools
W3Schools is a free website dedicated to coding and web development tutorials. Like Codecademy, most W3 tutorials are text-based, not video-based like Udemy and freeCodeCamp. Unlike Codecademy, W3 tutorials will begin by walking you through the installation process for your chosen language. This is a great first step for beginning to code in Java. However, if you’d like to practice Java without first downloading it, W3 does have its own Java coding environment which simulates real coding.
The W3 Java tutorial starts with the basics – syntax, variable types, data types, etc. and will take you all the way through intermediate concepts like Regular Expressions and File Handling. This tutorial covers everything you’d learn in a university Computer Science 101 course, and then some. It is extremely comprehensive.
The only costly element of W3 is official certification. You can complete all of the course material whenever you like for free or you can pay about $100 to receive a W3 certificate of completion, which can be presented to employers as proof of your Java competency.
Java Beginners Tutorial
Java Beginners Tutorials is a full, comprehensive website dedicated to Java tutorials. The material is straightforward and basic – lessons are grouped in 17 course categories. The Getting Started section at the top is the intro-level complete tutorial.
All the material is laid out in written form, which makes it easy to follow but does not have built-in interactive elements. It’s kind of like reading a textbook. However, it covers all the content you’d need to know as a new Java programmer and does so clearly. The fun thing about Java Beginners Tutorial is that each lesson has a comments section at the bottom where students can discuss the more difficult concepts, crowdsource questions, or just say hello!
Best Java Tutorials for Intermediate and Advanced Programmers
Coursera
Coursera is a massive trove of online education, covering everything from advanced masters degrees to quick cooking classes. Coursera’s tutorials are offered by world-renowned institutions like Stanford, University of Michigan, and Google. You can even enroll in a Computer Science masters program through University of Pennsylvania or Arizona State.
Within the long course catalog there are about twenty different intermediate-advanced Java tutorials that you can take for free. These include things like Creating Your First Multithreaded Application in Java and Database Connectivity. If you have a firm grasp of Java programming and want to take your skills to the next level, Coursera is a good place to look.
Udemy
Udemy has a huge range of intermediate and advanced Java courses. You can learn about End-to-End Project Development, Design Patterns, JavaFX, Spring, and Android development. Many of these niche courses do cost money – between $20 and $100 per course. However, there are a handful of upper-level Java courses available for free! These include interesting options like Design Patterns and Architecture, Developing a Reactive Microservice, and Spring MVC.
Javatpoint
Javatpoint has, perhaps, the largest supply of free advanced Java tutorials. The interface of the website is a bit simple but the content is highly robust – and, again, it is all free! Javatpoint groups their advanced Java tutorials by associated technology. You can choose between subjects like JSP, Apache, JavaFX, and Hibernate. The content on Javatpoint’s website is all text-based, but they also have a YouTube channel with companion videos, which are helpful if you prefer instructor-led learning.
Want to learn more about Java? Check out our Java hub page. There you’ll find answers to commonly asked questions, career guidance, and more resources about Java programming.
