How to Become an Android Developer in 2026

Market Research Intellect estimates that the global Mobile App Design Software market in the Information Technology and Telecom category will reach US$12.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2025 to 2031. This estimate is expected to increase steadily in the coming years as mobile devices become increasingly integrated into our everyday lives. Such a massive growth rate poses a requirement for skilled app developers.

Android, with a global market share of 70% as of 2025, can be a good platform to start a career in Android development. In this blog, you will learn how to become an Android developer.

What is an Android Developer?

An Android developer is a software professional who creates mobile apps for devices that run the Android operating system. They design the app’s features, write the code, and ensure it runs smoothly on Android phones and tablets.

What Does an Android Developer Do? 

Following are the major responsibilities of an Android developer:

• Design and build applications from scratch to launch.
• Write clean, functional, and maintainable code.
• Test applications to identify and fix bugs, ensuring the app functions correctly and efficiently.
• Work with product managers, UI/UX designers, and other teams to understand project requirements and deliver the desirable and agreed-upon final product.
• Maintain and keep the application updated.
• Integrate and manage external data sources and APIs to facilitate app functionality.

What Do You Need to Become an Android Developer?

To develop Android applications professionally, you must have a combination of technical and business skills. Listed below are the most important skills for Android developers:

1. Logical Thinking

Programming is like solving a puzzle. You need to think step-by-step to:

• Understand the problem
• Break it into smaller parts
• Find where the error is
• Solve the problem

Good logical thinking will help you write better and bug-free code.

2. Knowledge of Programming

Programming is not just about writing code. It encompasses:

• Understanding of loops, conditions, and functions 
• Knowing how to work with data
• Writing code that the computer can understand

3. Understanding Data Storage

Most applications require storing information, such as logins, settings, and notes. What every Android developer should know:

• SQLite databases
• Room database
• Shared Preferences
• Caching
• APIs for online data access

4. Knowing the Dev Environment

Android developers use Android Studio, which is the primary tool for:

• Creating projects
• Writing code
• Screen design
• Testing apps
• Error fixing

Popular Android Development Languages

Listed below are the most popular languages used in Android development -

1. Java

Java has been the oldest and most popular language for Android app development. Here is why.

• Strong and reliable
• Lots of learning resources available
• Still used in many existing apps
• Good for beginners, though it is not the first choice nowadays.

2. Kotlin (Most Recommended)

Kotlin is arguably the best language to learn for Android development today.

• Modern language officially supported by Google
• Easier and safer than Java
• Used for almost all new Android apps

3. HTML5 / JavaScript  

These languages can be implemented using your existing web development skills.

• You can build apps that work on Android as well as other platforms (iOS, and web)
• Good for people who already know web technologies
• Accelerates the prototyping and development process

5. No-Code Tools 

A number of no-code tools are available to develop Android apps. For example: Thunkable, AppSheet, Glide, Bravo Studio, Andromo, FlutterFlow, Appy Pie, etc. These tools enable individuals without programming knowledge to create functional apps. They allow creating applications using drag-and-drop functionality without coding.

Advantages of No-Code Tools:

• Quick to test ideas
• Lower development cost
• Good for simple apps or prototypes
• Build apps without writing code
• Great for beginners, entrepreneurs, and quick prototypes
• Useful for simple apps or business tools

However, full Android development skills for advanced apps cannot be replaced with no-code tools.

How to Learn Android Development

If you want to build Android apps, it can be confusing at first where to begin. This simple roadmap will help you understand what to learn and in which order.

1. Learn the Programming Language (Start with Kotlin)

Android apps can be built using either Java or Kotlin, but today Kotlin is the best option.

Google supports Kotlin as the primary language for Android, so new features are introduced in Kotlin first.

If you are a complete beginner:

• Learn basic programming and Kotlin syntax.
• Practice small exercises daily (variables, loops, functions, classes).
• Learn from YouTube channels or other online tutorials.

2. Set Up Your Development Tool 

Android apps are built in Android Studio. It is the official Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Android app development, endorsed and supported by Google.

What you should do:

• Install Android Studio
• Learn how to create a project, run an app on an emulator, and use basic menus
• Practice typing Kotlin code inside Android Studio
• Learn simple shortcuts and explore the interface

3. Learn How to Design Screens (UI Development)

Android apps have screens, buttons, text fields, images, etc.

Screen designing can be done in two ways:

• XML Layouts:  Older but still widely used method.
• Jetpack Compose: Modern, recommended method that uses only Kotlin.

Suggested path for beginners:

• First learn basic XML, because many companies still use it.
• After that, learn Jetpack Compose, as it is the future of UI for Android.
• Practice by copying screens from apps you already use.

Also, learn the Android Activity and Fragment lifecycles to understand how screens behave.

4. Learn Data Storage (Saving Information)

Apps often need to save data like user settings, login info, notes, etc.

Start with:

• DataStore Preferences for small data.

Then move to:

• SQL basics => understanding databases.
• Room Database, the official way to store structured data on Android.

For cloud-based apps:

• Learn Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Storage).

5. Learn How to Use APIs (Connecting Apps to the Internet)

Most apps need data from the internet—like news, login systems, weather, or products.

Start with:

• Retrofit, the most popular Android library for API calls.
• Learn about:
• JSON
• Parsing JSON into Kotlin data classes
• Coroutines and Flows to handle background tasks.

This will help you build apps that fetch live data.

6. Learn App Architecture (Building Clean, Scalable Apps)

Once you know the basics, you will be able to build clean, scalable apps. To keep your code clean and easy to manage, you must follow an architecture.

Start with:

• MVVM (Model–View–ViewModel) It is Google’s recommended architecture for Android.

After MVVM, you can explore:

• Clean Architecture
• Dependency Injection (Dagger Hilt)
• Room + MVVM
• ViewModels + LiveData/StateFlow

This will help you create professional-level apps.

7. Learn Testing  

Many beginners skip testing, but companies expect it.

You should learn:

• Unit tests
• Integration tests
• (Later) UI tests

Testing ensures that your app is functioning correctly. It also adds to your professional credentials and can enhance your employability.

8. Learn Extra Skills Needed for a Job

Even if you are good at coding, companies look for important practical skills:

• Learn Git: Git is used to manage and share code in teams.
• App security basics: Learn how to keep your app safe from viruses.
• Upload Projects to GitHub: Showcase your best work with clean code. Recruiters check this.
• Publish an App on Google Play: Even a simple app is enough. It shows you understand the complete app deployment process.