The biggest differences between Java and Javascript

Author: Zuzana Kocáková

Digitization

7 reading minutes

Java and JavaScript are popular programming languages, they have a similar name but are different in many aspects. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and each has different uses. What are the biggest differences between Java vs JavaScript and which one is worth learning? We’ve prepared all the important information about JavaScript and Java for you. You’ll find it especially useful if you’re just learning the basics of Java or the basics of JavaScript.

What is Java programming language?

The Java program, or Java language, is an object-oriented programming language developed by Oracle. Object orientation means that, unlike other languages, it focuses on classes, objects, and Java arrays, rather than functions and commands. Java arrays can also contain objects, but they are not directly focused on working with object orientation, such as classes and objects themselves. Other programming languages, such as Ruby, Python, and C++, work very similarly. Java’s syntax is based on two other programming languages, which are C and C++. There are more Java packages available today, such as:

• Java Micro Edition (ME) – designed for small devices and mobile phones.
• Java Standard Edition (SE) – classic Java, which is used in computers.
• Jakarta Enterprise Edition (EE) – formerly referred to as Java Platform, Java 2 Platform, Java EE or J2EE, it is used in the enterprise sector.
• Java Card – used for implementation in smart chip cards.

Java is also known for its slogan “write once, run anywhere”, abbreviated as WORA. The slogan says that Java code that a programmer writes for one platform, such as Windows, can be ported to another platform, such as a mobile operating system, very easily. This fact supports Java’s versatility and its popularity around the world.

History of the Java programming language

The history of Java dates back to 1991, when Sun Microsystems launched the Green Project. Its main task was to create programming language (read about most used programming languages) for consumer electronics. James Gosling, who was one of the lead engineers, created the Oak language. Unlike other languages such as C and C++, Oak could be used to write, compile, and run a program without recompiling. After a short time, the developers realized that a programming language called Oak already existed, so they had to think about changing the name. In the end, they chose the name Java, inspired by the coffee from Java that they drank while working. The Java programming language was to be used mainly in consumer electronics, but in the 1990s the Internet began to emerge, where it had great potential. Gosling and his team therefore modified Java so that it could run in a web browser environment. Several areas were kept in mind when developing the language, the most important being security. The developers designed Java to check the syntax of the language before running it. This check prevented the program from crashing due to corrupt code. Safety is also aided by the fact that Java does not have access to local programs. This minimizes the danger of viruses infecting the system. Since the first version of Java was introduced in 1995, several versions have been released, bringing various new features and improvements. Currently, the latest version of Java is Java 19, with Java 17, 11 and 8 being the versions with long-term support.

What is Java Virtual Machine?

Java is also a platform that provides an environment for running Java applications. The Java platform also includes the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and the Java API (Application Programming Interface). The JVM allows Java code to run on different platforms without the need to translate it into native code for each platform.

Java technology

In addition to the Java platform and programming language, the term “Java” can also refer to various Java technologies associated with the Java ecosystem, such as Java EE (Enterprise Edition) for enterprise development, Java ME (Micro Edition) for mobile development, and others.

Java programming – what is it used for?

Java is a universal programming language that is used for programming mobile or computer applications, games, websites and servers. In some cases, it can even run certain commands. For example, Wikipedia uses Java to search for queries that you type into the search box. Java is used not only by individuals and smaller companies, but also by large and well-known organizations, such as Netflix, Google, NASA, Spotify, Tesla, Uber, Paypal, and Twitter.

What are the advantages of Java?

The Java programming language has a number of strengths, including the following:

• It is suitable for beginners (read also about programming tips for beginners) – Java programming is not difficult, which makes this language great for both advanced and beginners who don’t have much experience. Check also Java coding tips to improve your experience even more.
• It has high security – Since Java does not have access to local programs, it provides high security.
• It’s versatile – Java can be used to program almost anything you need, from mobile apps to servers to games consoles.
• You don’t pay anything for it – You don’t pay anything for the programming language, you download it for free from the official website.
• It works on different operating systems – you can use Java on Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the disadvantages of programming in Java?

Every Java developer senior knows that Java has its drawbacks. These are the biggest ones:

• Takes up computer memory – If you want to use Java, you’ll need to get a computer that has more RAM.
• Doesn’t support backups – Your work isn’t backed up regularly, so if the system crashes, you lose everything you’ve been working on.
• Codes are harder to read – The Java language requires precise and detailed codes composed of long sentences, which makes it harder and more complicated to read.

What is Javascript programming language?

In addition to the Java programming language, you’ll also encounter JavaScript, known as JS. It is a scripting programming language that is mainly used to create web pages. JavaScript programming language is not difficult, find out how it was created! The origins of JavaScript date back to 1995, when Brendan Eich of Netscape Communications started developing it. At the time, the language was called Mocha and later LiveScript. However, just before it was launched, the name LiveScript was changed to the JavaScript we know today. Due to the JavaScript name syntax being very similar to Java, many thought that Brendan Eich was inspired by Java when creating JavaScript. However, the truth is that the developer was inspired by the Self language. There is no relationship between Java and JavaScript . The only similarity is in the syntax, which is based on the C language. However, to this day, many people are still wondering what is the difference between Java vs JavaScript syntax. JavaScript programming, along with HTML and CSS, is considered to be the foundation of web pages. Thus, JavaScript programming comes in handy for those who would like to start an online business in online presentations or e-commerce stores. It is characterized by the fact that it is much faster compared to other similar languages because it processes data directly in the browser. This is one of the basic JavaScript features. In practice, this means that double data transfer (passing information to the server and back) is eliminated, which could complicate the use of the web, especially for people with a slow internet connection.

What is Javascript used for?

In addition, you should know what is JavaScript and its advantages, because of its use in today’s world. The role of JavaScript is to create scripts to run web browsers. Scripts are found on the internet and are also used for browser games, automatically opening ads or animating web pages. Generally speaking, anything that updates on the web without reloading the page is the work of JavaScript. JavaScript programming is asynchronous programming, where certain tasks can run independently of each other, and the programs you write are called scripts and are written directly into the HTML code. Because of this, you can pick up the language very quickly early in your programming career. In its early days, JavaScript had the problem of not being compatible enough with different browsers. This resulted in pages not loading correctly for users. However, you shouldn’t encounter this complication today.

What are the advantages of Javascript?

JavaScript programming language has several advantages, such as:

• It can be run in a browser – This reduces the risk of slowdowns that could be particularly troublesome for those with poorer internet connections.
• It works with any browser – You can use JavaScript in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari.
• It uses a global object, which represents an object in a programming language. JavaScript window is a global object “window”, which represents a browser window. It allows access to various information and functions such as URL, width and height of the window, etc.
• Not very difficult – The difficulty of JavaScript is very similar to Java. So if you are a beginner, you don’t have to be afraid of it. JavaScript for beginners is no problem and you can soon become a senior JavaScript developer.
• There is a lot of material available – You can use books, videos and articles on the internet to learn the language. You can also learn the basics of JavaScript completely on your own. So the whole learning process is very quick and easy.
• Well paid – JavaScript developer is well paid. Just like other programmers, a JavaScript programmer can make a decent living in this job, it all depends on their experience. The salary of a JavaScript developer is steadily increasing, reflecting the demand for this specialization, so if you’re a beginner, endure and your efforts will pay off.

A junior JavaScript job involves an entry-level position on a programming team, where a young programmer with limited JavaScript experience works on a variety of tasks under the guidance of a more experienced colleague or team leader.

What are the disadvantages of Javascript?

As a JavaScript developer, you have knowledge and experience in JavaScript programming. It is most commonly used on the client side of websites to create interactive and dynamic user interfaces. A JavaScript programmer has the ability to create and manage client-side script maintenance, work with the JavaScript DOM (Document Object Model), and create modern web applications with various frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, or Vue.js. Before you decide to use JavaScript, it’s important to know what the drawbacks are:

• It may behave differently in different browsers – Although every modern browser uses JavaScript, their behaviour is very different. Browsers have code that interprets JavaScript on the run. In English, this is referred to by the word “engines”. Chrome and Brave use V8, while Firefox uses SpiderMonkey. So when using the language, it’s important to take into account that there may be different behaviours that you’ll need to find a solution for.
• Users can disable it – JavaScript can be disabled by the user in their browser, which can lead to some parts of the website not working well. It is therefore a good idea to design your website to work without it. So if you’ve only been interested in how to enable JavaScript, you’ll need to look at the problem from the opposite angle.
• It can’t store any data – JavaScript can only store cookies, nothing else.
• It only works in the browser – this is a disadvantage, especially since there are many versions of the language and browsers, which can lead to frequent errors.

What is the difference between Javascript and JSON?

Now that you know the difference between Java and JavaScript, let’s compare JavaScript vs JSON. When learning new programming languages, you may also come across JavaScript Object Notation, also known as JSON or JS JSON for short. JSON is a way of writing data that is independent of the computing platform. It is used to transfer data that can be aggregated in objects or organized in arrays. The input for JSON is any data structure. It can be a number, a string or an object. The result is always a string.

Advantages and disadvantages of JSON

One of the advantages of JSON is that it is universal and can be used to transfer data in any programming or scripting language. Meanwhile, the data is very easy to read, which simplifies the whole work. You can store the individual data you write using the JSON method in files. These can then be easily transferred. However, JSON also has its drawbacks, including the fact that it cannot define the character series of the file you are transferring. In general, then, JSON is more ideal for transferring simpler information, such as tables of numeric data. For transferring larger data, it is ideal to use an alternative, such as XML.

Programming languages to learn in 2024

The software developer job requires knowledge of at least one language. However, the more you know, the better you can apply yourself. Learning a new language is great, but remember that you should only ever focus on one that you can learn properly and work with at a professional level. But now you know the difference between Java versus JavaScript. So if you’re wondering whether to start with Java or learn JavaScript basics, given the above, you’d do well to choose the first option. Java is more versatile and you can do a lot more with it than you can with JavaScript. Java basics are essential for anyone who wants to learn and understand this robust programming language. In addition, it is a language that is required by many employers or clients.

Code like a pro

The software developer job attracts many. If you think it could be for you, learn one of the popular programming languages, or expand your knowledge and get a great job on the job market!

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The biggest differences between Java and Javascript

Zuzana Kocáková

At msg life Slovakia I take care of the company culture, events and I am part of the marketing team. I like a job where I can be creative and contribute to making my colleagues at msg feel good. I regularly prepare for you not only news and interesting things from the world of information technology and insurance, but also from behind the scenes events at msg life Slovakia.