Kotlin, developed by JetBrains, offers several features that distinguish it from Java, making it a modern, expressive, and safer programming language.

Null Safety: Kotlin’s type system eliminates null pointer exceptions by distinguishing between nullable and non-nullable types, enforcing null checks at compile-time.

Extension Functions: Kotlin allows adding new functions to existing classes without modifying their source code, enhancing class functionality effortlessly.

Smart Casts: Kotlin automatically handles type casting in conditional statements, reducing the need for explicit casts.

Data Classes: These provide a concise way to create classes that hold data, automatically generating useful methods like equals(), hashCode(), toString(), and copy().

Coroutines: Built-in support for coroutines simplifies writing asynchronous and concurrent code, making tasks like network operations more manageable.

Default and Named Arguments: Kotlin allows default values for function parameters and named arguments, improving code readability and reducing boilerplate.

Immutability and Read-Only Collections: Kotlin encourages the use of immutable variables and collections, which helps prevent accidental changes and enhances code safety.

Higher-Order Functions and Lambdas: These support functional programming paradigms, making code more expressive and concise.

Concise Syntax: Kotlin’s syntax reduces boilerplate, improving readability and developer productivity. These features collectively make Kotlin a robust and efficient alternative to Java.