Difference between Java and JavaScript

When you hear Java and JavaScript, you might get confused because of their similar names. Java and JavaScript are both programming languages but have different purposes, syntax, and use cases. In this blog, we will discuss what Java and JavaScript are, the features they provide, their advantages and disadvantages, and all the Java and JavaScript differences.

Table of Contents:

• What is Java?
• Features of Java
• What is JavaScript?
• Features of JavaScript
• Java vs JavaScript
• Java and JavaScript Differences in Syntax
• Comparison of Java and JavaScript in Real-world Applications
• Common Mistakes When Learning Java and JavaScript
• Why choose Java over JavaScript?
  • Advantages of Java over JavaScript
  • Disadvantages of Java over JavaScript
• Why choose JavaScript over Java?
  • Advantages of JavaScript over Java
  • Disadvantages of JavaScript over Java
• Conclusion

What is Java?

Java is a high-level object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995 and is used to create software and applications. Java believes in ‘’write once, run everywhere” which means once you have written a program in Java, you can run it on any platform or device that has JVM (Java Virtual Machine) installed and without any changes. Java turns your source code into bytecode using JVM then you can run this bytecode anywhere.

Features of Java

Java provides various features to make programming easier. Let’s see the key features of Java:

1. Works everywhere: You need to write the program once and you can run it on any device like mobile, desktop, tablet, etc. without changing the code. It’s possible thanks to JVM.
2. Object-oriented: Java is an object-oriented programming language that supports all the features of OOP like inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction, etc.
3. Safe and secure: Java provides strong security features that keep your data and programs safe from viruses and hackers.
4. Reliable: Java provides features like automatic memory management that help you avoid errors in your programming. It makes sure your programs run smoothly and don’t crash.
5. Multithreading: Multithreading is a feature of Java that means it can handle multiple tasks at once.
6. Flexible: Java is a dynamic programming language that means if you make any changes, it can adjust to them while running.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that is used to make the website interactive, developed by Brendon Eich in 1995. You can add buttons, animations, pop-up messages, and many more to increase the user experience on the website. JavaScript is a scripting language that is used to create responsive and interactive web pages. The main purpose of JavaScript is to modify and manipulate HTML and CSS of the web page. However, with the help of modern frameworks like Node.js and React Native, you can also use JavaScript for server-side applications, mobile app development, and even AI/ML applications.

Features of JavaScript

1. Works in browser: JavaScript runs on web browsers like Chrome and Firefox, so you don’t need to install anything to work on it.
2. Makes websites interactive: The purpose of JavaScript is to make the website interactive and fun to use. For example, when you click or hover on a button, it changes the color.
3. Easy to learn: JavaScript has simple rules to write programs which makes it easier to learn and understand for beginners.
4. Works with HTML & CSS: JavaScript is used together with HTML and CSS to make the web pages interactive. It means you can control how the webpage looks and feels to the user.
5. Organize code: With JavaScript, you can organize your code in objects. Objects are like boxes that contain both data and actions. This makes your code cleaner and easier to manage.
6. Libraries and frameworks: JavaScript provides many libraries and frameworks to write programs quickly and easily instead of writing from scratch.

Java vs JavaScript

Java and JavaScript have similar names which confuse people but they offer different features and have different purposes and use cases. Let’s see what Java and JavaScript differences are in detail:

Java and JavaScript Differences in Syntax

Other than the purposes of Java and JavaScript, they follow different methods to write code. Let’s see what Syntax differences Java and JavaScript have.

Here we will see a simple example of printing a text.

Example of Java:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hi, This is Intellipaat!");
    }
}

Output:

Example of JavaScript:

console.log("Hi, This is Intellipaat!");

Output:

Comparison of Java and JavaScript in Real-world Applications

Common Mistakes When Learning Java and JavaScript

Here are the most common mistakes people normally make when learning Java and JavaScript:

Common Mistakes in Java:

• Forgetting to declare the main method: The main method is really important in a Java program. If you forget to declare it as public static void main(String[] args), the program will not run.
• Use of == instead of .equals() for string comparison: In Java, == is used to check if two variables are pointing to the same memory location, not to check if their content is the same. To compare values inside two strings, you need to use .equals().

Common Mistakes in JavaScript:

• Use of == instead of ===: In JavaScript, == is used to check if two values are equal, but it allows type conversion, for example, it treats “5” and 5 as equal. You should use === to make sure that the values and types are both the same.
• Misunderstanding var, let, and const: In JavaScript, var is an old method to declare variables which can create problems because it works in a larger scope. You should use let and const instead because they work in a small scope where they are created.

Why choose Java over JavaScript?

Whether to choose Java or JavaScript, it all depends on the projects you are working on because they have different purposes in programming. Let’s see the advantages and disadvantages of Java over JavaScript:

Advantages of Java over JavaScript

1. Great for big applications: Java is mainly used for bigger applications like creating software and systems for an organization.
2. Reliable: Java is very strict when it comes to data handling which helps you find errors more quickly. This is perfect for projects where you need more accuracy.
3. Good for Android apps: When you are creating applications for mobile phones, Java is a go-to choice for you.
4. Multitasking: Java can handle multiple tasks at once which makes it good for applications that you want to work quickly like games.
5. Works on any device: Java can work on any device like Mac, Windows, or Linux, without making any change in the code. It makes Java a great choice for creating cross-platform applications.

Disadvantages of Java over JavaScript

1. Not for websites: You can’t use Java for creating interactive websites. If you want to add buttons, pop-ups, and animations, you will need JavaScript for that.
2. Complicated for small projects: Java can be too complicated if you are working on smaller projects. If you create a simple website, it might be easier and faster with JavaScript.
3. Slower for websites: JavaScript is a much better option to work on a browser like updating content. Java is slower for these tasks because it doesn’t directly run on the browser.
4. JVM requirement: You need to install JVM in your system to work with Java. But JavaScript doesn’t need anything.
5. Need more code: Java needs more code even for simple tasks but JavaScript can do it in fewer lines.

Why choose JavaScript over Java?

Despite their names Java and JavaScript serve different purposes when it comes to programming. They help you with different types of projects. Let’s see all the advantages and disadvantages JavaScript has over Java:

Advantages of JavaScript over Java

1. Great for websites: JavaScript is perfect for creating websites. You can add interactive buttons and animations very easily.
2. Runs on the browser: JavaScript runs directly on the web browser so you don’t need to install anything which makes it easy for you to access the website or app.
3. Faster for simple tasks: When you are working on a web app or website, JavaScript can do simple tasks like updating content or clicking buttons faster.
4. Good for real-time features: JavaScript is a great choice when you want to see things happen in real-time like live chats, notifications, etc.
5. Less code: For smaller tasks, JavaScript can do things faster than Java with less code.

Disadvantages of JavaScript over Java

1. Not for bigger programs: JavaScript is good for smaller tasks and websites but if you want to create big programs, you will need Java for that.
2. Need a browser: JavaScript is only good for tasks that require a web browser because it runs on the browser.
3. Security risks: JavaScript runs on your browser so it can create security risks. Hackers might use JavaScript for cyber crimes so you need to write it carefully.
4. No multitasking: JavaScript can’t do multitasking like Java can.

Conclusion

So far in this blog, we have learned what Java and JavaScript are, the features they provide, their advantages and disadvantages over each other, and all the Java and JavaScript differences. Java is good for bigger projects like creating applications and systems that run on a server and JavaScript is used for making websites interactive like by adding buttons and animations. Whether to choose Java or JavaScript, it all depends on the projects you are working on because they have different purposes in programming.

FAQs – Difference between Java and JavaScript