Introduction
Deciding the right programming language is crucial in the journey to becoming a programmer. The language you choose will have a lasting impact. If you’re a beginner and the language you choose turns out to be complex, you will probably lose interest soon. Plus, new programming languages get released every couple of years or so. This creates more confusion and makes it hard to select the right programming language. Therefore, you must carefully consider the ease of learning, the applications or web applications that can be built, and their long-term prospects. Today, in this article, we will understand the differences between two prime programming languages, i.e., Java and JavaScript.
Overview of Java and JavaScript
Although Java and JavaScript sounds similar, both languages are different in their usage and functionality. Java is the mainstream programming language used to build a wide range of web and desktop application. JavaScript is used alongside HTML and CSS to add interactivity and functionality to the front end.
Java, initially called OAK, was introduced in 1991 by James Gosling and his teammates during their tenure at Sun Microsoft. But it was officially released later in 1995. It is famously known for its platform independence and write once and run anywhere (WORA) feature worldwide. Some of the big well-established companies and organizations that use Java are Airbnb, Uber, HCL Tech, Naukri, Jabong, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Groupon, Spotify, Eclipse, Hadoop, TCS, Wipro, Myntra, Flipkart, Trivago, and Ibibo.
JavaScript was created in late 1995 by developer Brendan Eich. During its inception, it was known as LiveScript but later changed to JavaScript and also goes by ECMAScript. Since its release, JavaScript has gained massive success in web development. Due to its powerful semantics, prototypes, first-class functions, array literals, object literals, and closures, among all the client-side development languages, JavaScript is mostly used for client-side web development; about 96.8% is done using JavaScript.
Differences between Java and JavaScript
| Factors | Java | JavaScript |
|---|---|---|
| Syntax | Java syntax is similar to C++: public class Main { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println(“Hello World”); } } Source: W3 School | JavaScript syntax is similar to C. <!DOCTYPE HTML> <html>
<head> <title>JavaScript Course – Hello World</title> <!– Script tag can also be placed here –> <script src=”main.js”> // External JavaScript Code </script> </head>
<body> <p>Happy Learning of JavaScript</p> <script> // Internal JavaScript Code </script> </body> </html> Source: GeeksforGeeks |
| Compilation | Java program is first complied into byte code first and then interpreted by JVM. | JavaScript code are interpreted line by line. |
| Platform | Java programs run on the JVM; this is installed along with the Java Software Development Kit (SDK). | It runs on a browser and doesn’t need a setup. |
| Variables | Java is a static type, so programmers need to declare the variable before writing the program. E.g 1: String name = “John”;System.out.println(name); E.g 2: int myNum = 15;System.out.println(myNum); Source: W3 School | JavaScript is a dynamically typed language; programmers don’t need to declare variable before; they can declare them only whenever they are used. E.g 1: var x = 5; E.g 2: let x = 5; E.g 3: const price1 = 5;
Source: W3 School |
| Compatibility | Cross-platform compatibility and supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix. | Cross-browser compatibility and supports Chrome, Safari, Firefox. |
What is the future for Java Developers in 2024?
Java has swiftly adapted to the paradigm shift in the technological field. Nowadays, Java can be used in big data, IoT, cloud computing, blockchain, and AI/ML. Due to which, the job market has a strong demand for Java programmers and developers, whether they are beginners or experienced. Companies are eagerly looking for Java developers.
Must Read: What is Java And What Is It Used For?
Is JavaScript Worth Learning?
JavaScript is one of the most used programming languages in web development. The rise of new frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, Lodash, Moment.js, and Vue contributed to JavaScript’s rising popularity. Thus, working with complex web applications using these frameworks became super easy. Also, the functionalities of JavaScript libraries saved a lot of time and improved code quality. In addition, using Node.js for server-side development added more benefits to the language.
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What are the benefits of JavaScript over Java?
- JavaScript is easier to learn and use than Java, making it a good choice for someone who is just getting into the programming world.
- JavaScript is the ideal choice for creating interactive web applications.
- A flexible and easy language through which you can develop a wide range of applications, such as data visualizations, web games, and mobile apps.
- It consists of a huge and supportive community of developers, where there are plenty of resources, such as libraries, frameworks, and tools.
- A versatile language that can be used for both front-end and back-end development without relying on other languages.
- Lastly, it is supported by all modern web browsers; thus, applications built using JavaScript are used on different devices and platforms.
What are the benefits of Java over JavaScript?
- Java is straightforward, with strict syntax rules that encourage programmers to follow the best coding practices.
- Java is easy to write, compile, learn, and debug.
- Platform-independent and distributed language, multi-threading programming with automatic garbage collection is one of
the perks of Java. - Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) promotes code reusability and modularity. Also, rich API for tasks like database connection, networking, I/O, and XML parsing make the language robust.
- Provides security manager for every application where the access rules classes are established.
- It has a huge number of well-tested libraries and frameworks and is relatively inexpensive to maintain and does not rely on explicit hardware framework.
- Strong community support. So, if you get stuck in something, there is always someone to help you in your learning journey.
Java vs JavaScript: Which One is the Best for Beginners in 2024?
Java’s strict programming nature may cause difficulties for absolute beginners to tackle problems with simple loops, arrays, conditionals, debugging, and compilation tools. Although the lack of pointers and the implementation of an automatic garbage collector reduce the learning curve, interfaces can lead to ambiguity for beginners. Though Java does not support multiple inheritance, the concept of interfaces makes it difficult for novices to understand initially. Java would be easy for those who have a background in C++, C, and C#.
In addition, some important topics like multi-threading, packages, and OOP increase the complexity, especially for beginners with zero experience in programming. In contrast, JavaScript syntax is straightforward, which many beginners can comprehend without any difficulty. It offers different ways to do the same thing, which promotes ease in learning a language. Beginners can grasp the basic syntax easily, and unlike Java, it does not take much time to learn the many complex features of JavaScript. JavaScript’s flexibility with a soft learning curve is one factor that makes it beginner-friendly.
Using Javascript, developers can build any application on any platform with their most comfortable coding styles. But that said, labeling the degree of difficulty solely depends on the comprehension of the coding language. Yes, JavaScript is indeed less difficult than Java, but that does not necessarily mean that the language is so simple. Before you dive into JavaScript, you must know the basics of CSS and HTML. Because when building a web page, we need HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Thus, getting familiar is a must. So, with this, we have come to the end of the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
The future of Java is promising due to its widespread adoption across various domains, including financial services, AI/ML, retail, big data, healthcare, and IoT. You can choose any of these to get into Java development.
A Java developer’s job is to create software solutions; sometimes you may need to work under tight deadlines and with great efficiency and speed. Therefore, this can create a situation where you’re working consistently to create high-quality products within limited timeframes.
JavaScript is the driving force behind the rapidly evolving nature of webpages. It provides flexibility, frameworks, tools, and libraries through which web developers can build innovative websites.
Java developers can earn more lucrative salaries depending on their level of experience and area of expertise. You may work on complex and critical projects, which require a lot of experience. However, the salary range can also vary depending on the location, industry, and your qualifications.
Node.js, Vue, React, and Angular are the most popular frameworks of JavaScript. While Node.js is for server-side development, other frameworks are for client-side development.
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