Avatar of Hanna Shnaider
About The Author: Hanna Shnaider
PhD in Philology | Passionate About Modern Technologies | Bringing Digitalization Towards the Business
More posts by Hanna Shnaider

When it comes to programming languages, there are often debates about which one is the best. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when answering that question. You have your programming projects, whether research, personal or academic; you want to make sure that whatever it is you’re looking to do, the code you write is going to be bug-free; then there are factors like time and money as well. 

However, for modern web development, JavaScript is hard to beat. 

But what is JavaScript? What are the differences between Java and JavaScript? In addition, why should you choose Java script when developing something from scratch? In this blog post, we will answer all of those questions and more. We will take a closer look at the differences between Java and JavaScript, as well as the industries where JavaScript is being used as a development language

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that enables developers to create interactive applications. It was built in 1995 by James Gosling, and Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.0 was released in 1996.

JavaScript is most commonly used for creating user interfaces, but it can also be used for developing server-side applications or embedded systems. Its popularity has led to it being adopted as the primary scripting language on the web, with over 60% of all websites using at least one JavaScript library.

The simplicity and readability make it an attractive choice for novice programmers, while its ability to interact with HTML makes it perfect for building frontend applications. Additionally, because JavaScript runs within your browser without any installation required, you can easily develop prototypes and test them on your computer before moving them onto a live website.

JavaScript As A Programming Language - 2024 - 9

Features of JavaScript:

JavaScript has many features that make it an attractive option for web developers. Here are some of the most important features:

  • It can be used to create applications that run on multiple devices, such as smartphones or tablets.
  • It’s relatively easy to learn and use, so it’s suitable for beginners and those with little programming experience.
  • It’s cross-browser compatible, meaning it will work on all browsers without any problems or issues.
  • JavaScript uses an interpreter, which means the source code is converted into machine-readable bytecode before the browser executes it. 
  • With JavaScript, developers do not have to listen for events from their pages as built-in functions handle all kinds of events on websites, such as click, mouse move, and key-down events. 
  • JavaScript is so lightweight because it doesn’t require any additional processing power from your browser due to its use of simple text files containing instructions for webpages or documents on your site.
  • JavaScript is case sensitive, meaning if you write a variable called “myVariable” and another called “MyVariable,” they will be different variables.
  • JavaScript also has control statements, such as if and for loops. They are powerful and can be used to make programs more efficient, but they have a bad reputation due to their complexity.

Why is JavaScript a programming language?

JavaScript also has an extensive library of built-in functions, allowing you to accomplish common tasks easily. For example, you can access the document object model (DOM) to manipulate the contents of a web page or perform calculations in your code.

Additionally, JavaScript is cross-platform, which works on desktop and mobile devices. This opens up opportunities for businesses that want to create applications that are accessible from any device or location.

JavaScript As A Programming Language - 2024 - 11

What is the difference between Java and JavaScript?

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 the software you have on your computer. JavaScript is an interpreted language.

Here is the completed difference between Java and JavaScript:

JavaScript As A Programming Language - 2024 - 13

Java

  • In Java, variables must be declared first before they can be used in a program, as it is a strongly typed language. 
  • In Java, concurrency is implemented using threads.
  • Java is a stand-alone programming language.
  •  The main use of Java is in backend applications      
  • Java consumes more memory than other languages            
  • Java programming language is an object-oriented programming language.
JavaScript As A Programming Language - 2024 - 15

JavaScript

  • As JavaScript is not tightly typed, there is a more relaxed syntax and slightly different rules than other languages.
  • Scripting in JavaScript is based on object-oriented programming.
  •  Located within a web page and integrated with its HTML code.
  • As far as concurrency is concerned, Javascript uses an event-based approach.
  •  Both the front end and the back end are built using JavaScript.
  •  Memory is used less by Javascript.

What are the industries where JavaScript is used as a developing language?

It is very common for JavaScript to be used as a programming language in today’s day and age. Websites and web applications are the most common applications developed using this technology. 

As a result of the use of javascript in frontend and backend development by many multinational companies, such as Facebook (meta), Google, Walmart, etc.

Javascript is used most commonly in two industries 

  1. Web Development: JavaScript is the primary language for creating dynamic, interactive web pages. It enables developers to easily create user interfaces with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  2. Desktop Applications: JavaScript can be embedded into desktop applications to provide interactivity or animation. This allows users to experience a richer browsing experience without leaving their desktops. Popular examples of this include Adobe AIR and Unity3D game engines.

5 reasons to choose JavaScript

It’s one of the most popular coding languages used in almost all web browsers. Java script has many advantages over other programming languages like C++ and PHP.

Here are five reasons why you should consider using JavaScript when you develop a project:

  1. Java Script is easy to learn and has a simple syntax, which makes it easier to understand and can be used to develop websites, apps, and mobile applications.
  2.  It can be embedded in HTML pages directly, and as a result, you can create custom objects using it
    1. JavaScript is a programming language 
  3. The IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for Java Script is free and available for every developer who wants to use it.
  4. It is easy to extend the functionality of Java Script using external libraries and AJAX calls.
  5. Many frameworks available in the market can help you build your application faster than developing it from scratch.

Key Takeaway:

JavaScript is a great choice if you’re looking for a robust programming language to help you build dynamic web applications. It has a large community of developers who always create new tools and libraries to help make development easier. Node.js also goes well with Java Script. If you’re looking for a JavaScript developer, contact us.