Kotlin for Android is a programming language that was introduced by JetBrains in 2011 as an alternative to Java for Android app development. It is a statically typed language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and is fully interoperable with Java. Kotlin is designed to be concise, expressive, and safe, making it easier and more enjoyable to write Android applications.

Kotlin offers several advantages over Java when it comes to Android development. First, it reduces boilerplate code significantly, allowing developers to write more concise and readable code. It introduces features like type inference, null safety, and smart casts, which help catch potential bugs at compile-time and make the code more robust.

Another key advantage of Kotlin is its seamless interoperability with existing Java code. Developers can easily integrate Kotlin into their existing Android projects and leverage the vast ecosystem of Java libraries and frameworks. Kotlin also provides excellent tooling support, with features like code completion, refactoring, and error detection, making the development process more efficient.

Kotlin has gained popularity among Android developers due to its modern features, improved productivity, and enhanced safety. In fact, Google announced official support for Kotlin as a first-class language for Android development in 2017. Since then, Kotlin has been widely adopted by developers and has become the preferred choice for many new Android projects.