Java is a multi-platform, object-oriented, and network-centric language that can be used as a platform in itself. It is a fast, secure, reliable programming language for coding everything from mobile apps and enterprise software to big data applications and server-side technologies.

Learning Curve: Python is generally considered easier to learn for beginners due to its simplicity, while Java is more complex but provides a deeper understanding of how programming works. Performance: Java has a higher performance than Python due to its static typing and optimization by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Java's syntax is borrowed from C++, so if you learn C++ first, it's easy to pick up Java.

Java is an extremely transferable programming language used across platforms and different types of devices, from smartphones to smart TVs. It's used for creating mobile and web apps, enterprise software, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, gaming, big data, distributed, and cloud-based applications among other types.