Gone are the days when books used to be the only source for learning Java. Instead, quality video courses have risen in popularity with the rapid spread of the internet and smartphones. Of course, this is more true in the case of computer languages like Java and Python. However, books still form a core constituent of learning and the best Java Books are still a valuable resource.

What is Java?

Java is a high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. It was originally designed for developing programs for set-top boxes and handheld devices, but later became a popular choice for creating web applications. The Java syntax is similar to C++, but is strictly an object-oriented programming language.

Features of JAVA?

Java is simple object oriented programming language
In java everything is written in class
Java supports UNICODE Universal Coding System
Java is platform independent so that we can run java program on any platform ( Operating System)
Java is architecture Neutral so java program can be ran on any platform
Java is dynamic ( everything is created at run time )
Java program is 1st compiled using compiler and then interpreted using interpreter so java is compiled and interpreted language.

Best Java Books

So, you are someone who wants to learn the basics of the Java programming language. Or, you are a Java programmer looking to hone your skills. Breathe easy, as we are here to narrow down your options with the list of the top Java books out there.

1. Head First Java

This book is perfect for someone starting with Java. It explains the fundamentals of the language in a beginner-friendly language. The book takes a visual approach to learning, which makes it one of the best Java books for beginners. In fact, some have gone as far as calling it ‘The Bible of Java’

Originally Published: 2003
Author: Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates

2. Java the Complete Reference

Java the complete reference book was Released by the Oracle Press, the book is periodically updated following the update in the version of Java. The latest edition is 11th edition, which covers all the fundamentals with the newly added features of Java 11. You can consider it as a comprehensive book on all the features and aspects of Java.

Originally published: 2020
Author: Herbert Schildt

3. Thinking in Java

As suggested by the title of the book, the primary focus of the author is to make you think in Java. this is one of the most popular book for java and for the object-oriented programming. The book also explains the thought process that was behind the development of the language.

Originally Published: 1998
Author: Bruce Eckel

4. Core and Advanced Java

This is one of the best book for beginners and for the advanced students to learn Java Programing. It also covers a variety of interview questions that comes in handy for interview preparations. this book include topics like software packaging, API documents, interface, and abstract classes.

Originally Published: 2008
Author: Dr R. Nageswara Rao

5. The Java Language Specification

The Books is Written by the creator of Java, James Gosling. the Java Language Specification book provides an in-depth analysis of the language. It is a must-have for all serious developers of Java.
In this Book author explains the concepts with the help real-world examples. That makes for a fun way to learn the concepts even for a seasoned Java developer. In addition to this, the new features of Java SE 8 like lambda expressions, default methods, type annotations, and repeating annotations are also covered in the book

Originally Published: 1996
Author: James J. Gosling, Bill Joy, Jr. Steele, Guy L., Gilad Bracha, Alex Buckley, Guy L. Steele Jr.

Some of the Other Important Books are:

1: Core Java by Cay S. Horstmann, Gary Cornell
2: Java Concurrency in Practice by Brian Goetz with Tim Peierls, Joshua Bloch, Joseph Bowbeer, David Holmes, and Doug Lea
3: Head-First Object Oriented Analysis Design by Brett D. McLaughlin, Gary Pollice & David West
4: OCA Java SE 8 by Jeanne Boyarsky, Scott Selikoff