Android Development Kotlin Programming Syllabus

Kotlin Programming syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Kotlin Programming in Android Development, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Introduction to Kotlin

   2 topics

   • Overview
     • What is Kotlin?
     • History of Kotlin
     • Why Kotlin?
     • Kotlin vs Java
   • Setup
     • Installing Kotlin
     • Setting up Kotlin in IntelliJ IDEA
     • Setting up Kotlin in Android Studio
     • Command Line Compilation
2. 2

   Basic Syntax

   3 topics

   • Hello World
     • Writing your first Kotlin program
     • Understanding the main function
   • Variables and Data Types
     • var vs val
     • Primitive Data Types
     • Type Inference
     • Nullable Types
   • Control Flow
     • Conditional Statements
     • Loops
     • Ranges
     • When Expression
3. 3

   Object-Oriented Programming

   3 topics

   • Classes and Objects
     • Defining Classes
     • Constructors
     • Properties
     • Methods
   • Inheritance
     • Open Classes
     • Overriding Methods
     • Abstract Classes
     • Interfaces
   • Visibility Modifiers
     • Public
     • Private
     • Protected
     • Internal
4. 4

   Advanced Concepts

   3 topics

   • Extensions
     • Extension Functions
     • Extension Properties
   • Higher-Order Functions and Lambdas
     • Lambda Expressions
     • Inline Functions
     • Function Types
   • Coroutines
     • Introduction to Coroutines
     • Building Blocks of Coroutines
     • Coroutine Context and Dispatchers
     • Structured Concurrency
5. 5

   Standard Library

   3 topics

   • Collections
     • List
     • Set
     • Map
     • Sequence
   • Scope Functions
     • let
     • run
     • with
     • apply
     • also
   • String Manipulation
     • String Templates
     • String Operations
6. 6

   Kotlin for Android Development

   3 topics

   • Getting Started
     • Setting up Android Studio
     • Creating a New Project
   • Kotlin Android Extensions
     • View Binding
     • Synthetic Properties
   • Coroutines in Android
     • Using Coroutines with ViewModel
     • Handling Lifecycle with Coroutines
7. 7

   Testing in Kotlin

   2 topics

   • Unit Testing
     • JUnit Integration
     • Mocking
     • Writing Test Cases
   • Android Testing
     • Espresso
     • Robolectric
     • UI Testing
8. 8

   Kotlin Multiplatform

   3 topics

   • Introduction
     • What is Kotlin Multiplatform?
     • Setting up Multiplatform Project
   • Shared Code
     • Expect/Actual Declarations
     • Common Code
   • Platform-Specific Code
     • JVM Code
     • JS Code
     • Native Code

Kotlin Programming flashcards for Android Development

18 of 51 cards from the Kotlin Programming deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is Kotlin and who develops it?

   Kotlin is a statically typed, cross-platform, general-purpose programming language developed by JetBrains. It runs on the JVM, compiles to JavaScript and native code, and is fully interoperable with Java. Since 2019 it is Google's preferred language for Android development.

2. Name three key features that distinguish Kotlin from Java.

   (1) Null safety built into the type system, (2) concise syntax (no semicolons, type inference, data classes), and (3) 100% Java interoperability. Others include extension functions, coroutines, and no checked exceptions.

3. What file extension do Kotlin source files use, and what does the compiler produce?

   Kotlin source files use the .kt extension (or .kts for scripts). The kotlinc compiler produces .class bytecode files that run on the JVM, packaged into JARs like Java.

4. What is required to set up Kotlin for Android development?

   Android Studio (which bundles the Kotlin plugin and compiler) and the Android SDK. The Kotlin Gradle plugin (org.jetbrains.kotlin.android) is applied in the module build.gradle to compile Kotlin code.

5. Write a minimal Kotlin 'Hello World' program.

   fun main() { println("Hello, World!") } The entry point is the top-level main function; println prints a line to standard output. main may optionally take args: Array<String>.

6. What is the difference between val and var in Kotlin?

   val declares a read-only (immutable) reference that can be assigned only once (like final in Java). var declares a mutable reference that can be reassigned. Both are locally type-inferred if a type is not specified.

7. List the basic numeric data types in Kotlin and their bit sizes.

   Byte (8-bit), Short (16-bit), Int (32-bit), Long (64-bit), Float (32-bit), Double (64-bit). Also Boolean, Char (16-bit), and String. Unsigned variants exist: UByte, UShort, UInt, ULong.

8. How does Kotlin handle null safety with nullable and non-nullable types?

   By default types are non-nullable (String cannot hold null). Appending ? makes a type nullable (String?). Accessing members requires safe calls (?.), the Elvis operator (?:), or the non-null assertion (!!).

9. What does the safe-call operator (?.) do in Kotlin?

   It calls a member only if the receiver is non-null; if the receiver is null, the whole expression evaluates to null instead of throwing a NullPointerException. Example: a?.length returns null when a is null.

10. What is the Elvis operator (?:) and when is it used?

    The Elvis operator provides a default value when the left-hand expression is null. In val len = a?.length ?: 0, len becomes the string length or 0 if a is null.

11. Compare Kotlin's if used as an expression versus a statement.

    In Kotlin if is an expression that returns a value, so it can replace Java's ternary operator: val max = if (a > b) a else b. There is no ?: ternary conditional; if/else is used instead.

12. How does the when expression work in Kotlin?

    when is a multi-branch conditional (like an enhanced switch) that can match values, ranges (in 1..10), types (is String), or arbitrary boolean conditions. Used as an expression it must be exhaustive and returns a value; else is the default branch.

13. Describe Kotlin's for loop and how ranges are used with it.

    for iterates over anything providing an iterator: for (x in collection). Ranges create sequences: for (i in 1..5) (inclusive), for (i in 1 until 5) (exclusive end), for (i in 5 downTo 1), and step: for (i in 0..10 step 2).

14. What is the difference between break/continue and labeled break in Kotlin loops?

    break exits the nearest enclosing loop and continue skips to its next iteration. Labels (e.g. outer@) let you target an outer loop: break@outer or continue@outer control the labeled loop instead of the innermost one.

15. How do you declare a class with a primary constructor in Kotlin?

    class Person(val name: String, var age: Int) The primary constructor is part of the class header. Prefixing parameters with val/var declares them as properties. Initialization logic goes in an init { } block.

16. What is a data class in Kotlin and what does it auto-generate?

    A data class (data class User(val name: String)) automatically generates equals(), hashCode(), toString(), copy(), and componentN() destructuring functions based on the primary-constructor properties. It must have at least one constructor parameter.

17. What is the difference between a class and an object declaration in Kotlin?

    A class is a blueprint you instantiate. An object declaration defines a singleton — a single instance created lazily on first access — with no constructor. It is Kotlin's idiom for singletons and utility holders.

18. What is a companion object and what is it used for?

    A companion object is a single object declared inside a class with the companion keyword. It holds members tied to the class (not instances), serving as Kotlin's equivalent of Java's static members, e.g. factory methods and constants.

See more Kotlin Programming flashcards →

Planning Kotlin Programming for Android Development

Kotlin Programming (Android Development) FAQ