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Java vs. JavaScript: What's the Difference?

Written by 糖心vlog官网观看 Staff 鈥 Updated on

It鈥檚 important to know the differences between Java and JavaScript, two popular programming languages. Read on to explore the differences, uses, and pros and cons of both.

[Featured image] A software engineer uses Java to develop a desktop application.

Java and JavaScript have similar names, but that鈥檚 where the kinship stops. It鈥檚 important to know the differences between these two popular programming languages. Read on to explore the differences, uses, and pros and cons.

Though Java and JavaScript share half of a name, the two are far from the same. When looking at Java versus JavaScript syntax, you can see they look pretty different on the surface, and the differences go much deeper than that.

According to SlashData's annual survey, 2022 marks JavaScript鈥檚 10th survey in a row rating as the most commonly used programming language. Java joins in as the fifth most popular programming language [].

Let鈥檚 examine the differences between Java and JavaScript, including their history, features, uses, advantages, and disadvantages.

What is the difference between Java and JavaScript?

When considering Java versus JavaScript, you鈥檒l notice a few key differences. Java is a compiled language, meaning you write code, run it through a compiler, and create bytecode. The bytecode is then run in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which is likely your computer software. JavaScript is an interpreted language. It doesn鈥檛 get compiled but is interpreted as the script runs. It's commonly used to create interactive websites. You鈥檙e reading this right now on a page running JavaScript.

What is Java?

Java launched with a 鈥淲rite once, run anywhere鈥 promise. Since its launch, it quickly became famous for creating client and server-side applications. It has a similar syntax to C and C++. Still, it is easier to understand and has fewer low-level features because that functionality is handled automatically by the compiler and JVM.

Features of Java

Java has been around for some time and, as such, has developed a large community with a host of tools and educational content related to the language.

It鈥檚 on par or faster than most other modern compiled languages and much faster than interpreted languages, making it a good choice for robust native applications. Unlike JavaScript, Java is a multi-threaded language, meaning it can do multiple things simultaneously rather than wait for each task to finish before beginning the next one.

Java is very secure. It has private methods and variables built in, so there can be no unauthorised access to the underlying data and functionality. Additionally, the compiled app runs on a virtual machine, which keeps itself separate from the underlying device on which it is running.

What is Java used for?

Almost any desktop application, mobile application, game, website backend, or server can be created using Java, and it can even run machines. Wikipedia uses Java to execute its queries when you search on its website or app, and it even controls the systems in Mars rovers. Netflix, Google, Twitter, and several other big-name tech companies all use Java in some form to provide their services.听

Advantages of Java

There are many reasons why Java is one of the most widely used programming languages. Designed to be easy to use, Java is more straightforward to write and makes it easier to compile, debug, and learn than other languages. It鈥檚 also object-oriented, meaning you can create modular programs and reusable code. One of Java鈥檚 most significant advantages is that it鈥檚 platform-independent. It鈥檚 able to move quickly from one computer system to another.

Java is a robust language. Because it鈥檚 easy to use, platform independent, and has security features, it has become the language of choice for building the Internet of Things (IoT).

Disadvantages of Java

Though Java touts many excellent qualities, it lacks in performance. Java tends to run more slowly than languages like C and C++ and consumes significant memory. That extra memory is going to require more hardware to keep things running. More hardware means more money spent. Lastly, there needs to be more support for low-level programming.听

History of Java

James Gosling began developing Java in 1991. It was intended to be used for interactive television but at the time was too advanced for cable. Initially named Oak and then Green, it was finally given its official name of Java, after the type of coffee. Version 1.0 was released in 1996 under Sun Microsystems and became one of the most ubiquitously used technologies in the world. It is the foundation of the Android operating system and the language of the popular video game Minecraft.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript has no direct relation to Java besides being used for web technologies. The name choice was a marketing move to encourage adoption.

Features of JavaScript

JavaScript has critical features that led to its widespread adoption. It runs live in the browser without compiling beforehand, a process called just-in-time compilation. Every major web browser uses the language. It is responsible for many website interactions, like fetching new data without reloading the page, animations, checking forms for errors, chatting, posting comments, and much more.

What is JavaScript used for?

JavaScript is used by 98 percent of all websites as of June 2022, according to W3Techs []. There are over 1.93 billion websites on the internet today, according to First Site Guide []. That鈥檚 a lot of JavaScript. It can turn a static brochure-style website into a functioning application in your web browser.

It鈥檚 not only for the front end, though. JavaScript can run in Node environments, allowing you to write JavaScript for the back end. It can perform routing, controller functions, an API service, or all of those things simultaneously. Node enables you to have a full JavaScript stack.

You can also make games in JavaScript. It is particularly suited for mobile and browser games, meaning you can make games for almost any device with a web browser.听

Advantages of JavaScript

The ability to run in a browser is a massive advantage for JavaScript. It鈥檚 one of the reasons that it has been the most popular language used in GitHub projects for several years in a row. Web browsers exist on a wide array of devices. All desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones have browsers, and many game consoles and smart TVs also have browsers.

JavaScript鈥檚 extreme versatility makes it an excellent choice when considering Java versus JavaScript for web development. Being a no longer means you must learn multiple languages. You have to know an array of ideas, patterns, and paradigms, but you only need one syntax to combine all of them.

Because of its popularity and pervasiveness, educational material is abundant about JavaScript. You can find books, videos, courses, articles, and podcasts on just about every facet of the technology. Finding someone with the information you need to accomplish your goal is relatively easy.

Disadvantages of JavaScript

Even though every modern browser runs JavaScript, different browsers can sometimes behave differently. Browsers have code that interprets the JavaScript at runtime called engines. Chrome, for example, uses the V8 engine, while Firefox uses the SpiderMonkey engine. These engines often interpret the code similarly, but there are instances of behaviour that differ from what you might expect. There鈥檚 always a workaround for consistent behaviour and plenty of resources documenting and fixing the flaws.

Some may say that JavaScript's dependence on the browser is a flaw. While the statement is somewhat true, as mentioned, it can now run in different environments with Node. With tools like React Native, you can create stand-alone apps that run on the most popular environments, like Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android. There鈥檚 a learning curve you should be aware of, though.

Speed is another factor to consider. Programming languages are doing complicated math very, very quickly. JavaScript is a high-level language, meaning it鈥檚 abstracted from the low-level workings of the computer it is running on. Reducing high-level programming calculations to low-level execution takes time. It鈥檚 not much time by human standards, but it will start to be noticeable over a few thousand functions and calculations.

History of JavaScript

JavaScript was created in 10 days by Netscape employee Brendan Eich. Released in September of 1995, the language was part of the beta for the Netscape Navigator web browser. It was first called Mocha, then LiveScript, and three months later the official name changed to JavaScript upon Navigator鈥檚 official release.

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Article sources

1.听

InfoWorld. ", https://www.infoworld.com/article/3661248/developer-survey-javascript-and-python-reign-but-rust-is-rising.html." Accessed March 15, 2024.

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