The programming world relies heavily on programming languages like Java and JavaScript. If coding piques your attention, you will undoubtedly run into these terms. They are nevertheless susceptible to confusion. Some people could be misled into thinking that Java is just a condensed form of JavaScript. Despite the considerable resemblance, these two languages operate fundamentally differently.

What is Java?

The object-oriented programming language Java features a virtual machine platform that enables you to compile programs that run on almost every platform. Since its release, it has rapidly gained popularity for building client- and server-side applications. Its syntax is comparable to that of C and C++. Despite this, it is simpler to grasp and has fewer low-level features because the compiler and JVM already take care of such functionality.1 

What is JavaScript?

An easy-to-use computer language called JavaScript is used to create interactive web pages. It operates in the user’s web browser without requiring any resources from the web server since it complies with the rules of client-side programming. Additionally, JavaScript can be used with various other technologies, including XML, REST APIs, and more. Besides being utilized for web technologies, JavaScript is not comparable to or associated with Java. 2

Java Vs. Javascript: Difference Between Java and Javascript

There are few similarities between the two languages, although they are both commonly used in client-side and server-side web applications as well as have a syntax similar to C. The following are some critical distinctions between Java and JavaScript.3,4,5,6  

  • JavaScript is a scripting language that aids in creating interactive web pages, whereas Java is an object-oriented, multi-platform, and network-centric programming language.
  • JavaScript and Java are both object-oriented languages; however, Java requires the usage of objects across the entire codebase, whereas JavaScript supports straightforward linear programming without using objects.
  • Variables in Java must be defined before they may be used in the program because it is a tightly typed language. JavaScript is a loosely typed language with laxer syntax and conventions unlike Java, where the variable type is checked at compile-time.
  • Java objects are class-based, and we cannot create a Java program without first defining a class, unlike JavaScript objects that are prototype-based.
  • Java is a standalone language, whereas JavaScript requires integration into an HTML program to be used.
  • Java programs can be executed without a web browser, while JavaScript programs require a web browser to run.
  • Java uses a thread-based concurrency model, whereas Javascript uses an event-based concurrency model.
  • Users in Java can execute complex work using multi-threading; however, users in JavaScript cannot perform complex tasks.
  • Programs written in the Java programming language are saved with the “.java” extension, and JavaScript programs are saved with the “.js” extension.

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Now that you know how Java and JavaScript differ from one another, you can read more articles like these that are equally interesting, like C vs. C++— Discover the Similarities and Differences Between the Two! Firmware Vs. Software: How Do They Differ From One Another?, Computer Science vs Software Engineering: What is the Distinction Between the Two Fields?, Software Developer vs Software Engineer: How Do These Roles Differ From One Another?,

You can read more in-depth articles on math and coding at BYJU’s FutureSchool Blog.

References:

  1. Java Programming Language – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/java-programming-language 
  2. Java-Script – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/java-script 
  3. (PDF) Comparison of Programming Languages: Review. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326672199_Comparison_of_Programming_Languages_Review 
  4. The Difference Between Java and JavaScript | DiscoverDataScience.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.discoverdatascience.org/articles/java-vs-javascript/ 
  5. What is the Difference Between Java and JavaScript? | Software Guild. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.thesoftwareguild.com/faq/difference-between-java-and-javascript/ 
  6. Java vs JavaScript: Full Comparison – History-Computer. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://history-computer.com/java-vs-javascript/ 
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