Java Vs. JavaScript: Difference Between Java and JavaScript [2023]

The naming of these two languages is the reason behind the massive confusion between the two languages, i.e., Java and JavaScript. Just because JavaScript shares the word, Java non-tech people quickly assume Java to be a superset of JavaScript. The truth is very far from this assumption. While the fact remains that the development of both of these languages had something in common when Netscape was the best available tool to surf the World Wide Web.

However, since that time, these two languages have separated from each other and now have become two very different entities. Both Java and JavaScript have established their unique identities in the tech world, making both of these languages crucial to master their respective domains. It is a running joke in the tech community that Java and JavaScript’s relationship is that of ham and hamster (making them two very different things). 

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If the question, what is the difference between java and javascript? Had been posted about five years ago, the answer to it would have been straightforward. Java was considered to be a general language with various and varied applications, whereas JavaScript was the language that enabled Web apps and Websites to be more responsive and dynamic.

The comparison of java vs. javascript would be very different in the context of the 21st century. The main reason which makes the comparison complicated is that JavaScript has matured a lot as a language and is no longer limited to just being used in web technologies. 

Before we answer the question, what is the difference between java and javascript? In the modern context, we must first understand both of these languages intricately in this paradigm. 

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Java

Java is a programming language, and this bit should be evident by now. Java was invented rather than created by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems. The development of Java was not easy; however, it took the group closer to about four years to make a capable language. Java, which saw the daylight in the year 1995, and since then has taken the entire world by storm.

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You can see the internet to be filled to the brim with apps and technologies which are based out of Java. Even the android operating system, which is present on almost every modern-day smartphone, also has its roots in Java. Credit has to go to Java to make our lives much more straightforward. Oracle is the proud owner of Java in the modern-day.

Java Features

The key characteristics of Java are listed below. 

• Run code one time, and practically any computing platform will execute it. 
• The creation of object-oriented programmes is its intended use. 
• It has autonomous memory management and is a multithreaded language. 
• Since it is network-centric, it makes collaborative computing easier. 

In the later section, check the features of JavaScript to understand the difference between Java and JavaScript better. 

Java: What is it Used For?

Whether a server, website backend, game, mobile app, or desktop application, build any of these with Java. It is even compatible with machines. When you conduct a search on Wikipedia’s website or mobile application, Java is used to carry out your inquiries. It even manages the systems in Mars rovers. From Twitter to Netflix, every big web-based business leverages the power and services of Java. 

Java Advantages

Here are some advantages to utilizing Java. 

• There is thorough documentation available. 
• There is a sizable pool of knowledgeable developers. 
• Numerous third-party libraries. 
• It enables the creation of reusable code and standardized programmes. 
• Outstanding performance. 
• Libraries that are simple to use. 

Java Disadvantages

The disadvantages of using Java are as follows: 

• The program runs somewhat slowly because of the JIT compiler. 
• Java necessitates a huge amount of computing memory and power.
• Hardware prices consequently rise. Low-level coding constructs, such as pointers, are not supported. 

Compare the pros and cons of Java with the ones of JavaScript to better differentiate between both and come to a conclusion for Java vs JavaScript.

Read more: How to Code, Compile and Run Java Projects

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JavaScript

When the internet was still taking its baby steps, and it was far from the behemoth, we know it was just two leading web browsers today. The entire web race belonged to Internet Explorer and Netscape navigator. In merely ten days, a developer who goes by the name of Brendan Eich saw the need for a language that can directly talk with the browser. This language was created to accommodate the user’s interaction with the web browsers and websites.

LiveScript’s language was invented with the capability to instruct the browser directly whenever any user input was found. The development of this new language LiveScript took just about ten days for the developer, and soon he integrated this new language with the Netscape navigator. 

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Livescipt enabled the browser to interpret the user and the commands which users send. It eliminated the need to re-compile or compile the code and made the use of plugins for this task completely obsolete. This language of LiveScript was created at the time when another programming language, which goes by the name of Java, was gaining popularity.

To ride on the java wave and gain some momentum in a marketing ploy, which leads to all this confusion, the developer re-named this language to what we know now as JavaScript.

Must Read: Javascript Project Ideas & Topics 

JavaScript Features

When comparing Java vs JavaScript, consider these salient features of JavaScript:

• Given its solid reputation as a cross-platform language, programmers use it for both server-side and client-side applications.
• Strong Workflow for Testing 
• Learning and getting started with programming are simple. 
• Added/increased dependencies 

JavaScript: What is Used For?

W3Techs says that in November 2022, 97.8% of websites leveraged JavaScript. Today, the internet has more than 1.98 billion websites, says the First Site Guide. 

That is a significant amount of JavaScript. It can transform a website into a working application that runs in your web browser from a static brochure-style website. You can create JavaScript for the back end because it can execute in Node environments. It can carry out controller operations, routing, an API service, or any combination of them at once. 

You can use Node to have a complete JavaScript stack. When it comes to type script vs JavaScript, the latter can be used to create games. It may be used to create games for nearly any device having a web browser because it is especially well-suited for mobile and internet games. 

JavaScript Advantages

Using JavaScript has the following advantages: 

• It is an open-source effort supported by Microsoft. 
• A tool specifically created for short scripts. 
• Enables modules, classes, and interfaces. 
• Any browser can run JavaScript that has been compiled. 
• Permits cross-compiling. 
• JavaScript may be extended to create complex apps. 
• On the user’s PC, you can store and retrieve data using JavaScript. 
• Feedback is given right away to visitors. 
• It enables you to design graphical user interfaces that respond to mouse hovering. 

JavaScript Disadvantages

The following are negative aspects of utilizing JavaScript client-side. 

• Security concerns have led to its preservation. 
• Due to the lack of support, JavaScript cannot be utilized for networking applications. 
• JavaScript lacks multithreading and multiprocessor capabilities. 

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Java vs. JavaScript

The languages of Java and JavaScript were written in a very different manner. Both of these languages differ vastly in the things they are capable of doing. In the table below, you will find a comprehensive comparison of Java vs JavaScript:

Also Read: JavaScript vs JQuery: Difference Between JavaScript and JQuery

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