In addition to its portability and object orientation, one of Java’s initial design goals was to be small and simple, and therefore easier to write, easier to compile, easier to debug, and, best of all, easy to learn. Keeping the
language small also makes it more robust because there are fewer chances for programmers to make mistakes that are difficult to fix. Despite its size and simple design, however, Java still has a great deal of power and
flexibility.

Java is modeled after C and C++, and much of the syntax and object-oriented structure is borrowed from the latter. If you are familiar with C++, learning Java will be particularly easy for you because you have most of
the foundation already. (In fact, you may find yourself skipping through the first week of this book fairly rapidly. Go ahead; I won’t mind.)

Although Java looks similar to C and C++, most of the more complex parts of those languages have been excluded from Java, making the language simpler without sacrificing much of its power. There are no pointers in
Java, nor is there pointer arithmetic. Strings and arrays are real objects in Java. Memory management is automatic. To an experienced programmer, these omissions may be difficult to get used to, but to beginners or
programmers who have worked in other languages, they make the Java language far easier to learn.

However, while Java’s design makes it easier to learn than other programming languages, working with a programming language is still a great deal more complicated than, say, working in HTML. If you have no
programming language background at all, you may find Java difficult to understand and to grasp. But don’t be discouraged! Learning programming is a valuable skill for the Web and for computers in general, and Java is a
terrific language to start out with.

Java is often considered relatively easy to learn compared to some other programming languages, particularly for beginners. Here’s why:

1. **Syntax**: Java syntax is straightforward and easy to read, making it accessible for beginners to understand and write code.

2. **Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)**: Java is an object-oriented programming language, which means it encourages structured programming practices and modular code organization. While OOP concepts might be a bit challenging for absolute beginners, they provide a solid foundation for building complex applications once understood.

3. **Abundance of Learning Resources**: There are countless tutorials, books, online courses, and documentation available for learning Java. This wealth of resources makes it easier for beginners to find help and guidance as they learn.

4. **Platform Independence**: Java’s “write once, run anywhere” philosophy allows programs written in Java to run on any platform with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This makes it easier for beginners to develop applications without worrying too much about the underlying operating system.

5. **Strong Community Support**: Java has a large and active community of developers who are always willing to help newcomers. Whether it’s through forums, Stack Overflow, or Java user groups, there’s no shortage of support available.

6. **Used in Various Domains**: Java is widely used in various domains, including web development (with frameworks like Spring and Hibernate), mobile development (Android apps), enterprise software, and more. This means that learning Java opens up opportunities in a wide range of industries and fields.

Of course, like any programming language, mastering Java requires practice and dedication. However, its relatively gentle learning curve and vast ecosystem of resources make it a popular choice for beginners.