How Different Is JavaScript From Java?

While apparently Java and JavaScript may appear to be similar due to the similarity in their names, there are quite a bit of difference between the two. To start with, Java is a particular type of general purpose programming language that has been influenced by C, which is another very effective programming language. The syntaxes are derived from C and C++ and it is rich in a few features that are of lower level than either of the two mentioned languages. It is designed to have lesser degree of implementation dependencies than the previous platforms.



On the other hand, JS is actually an interpreted version of computer programming platform which is mainly used for scripting purpose. From that point of view, it can well be said that while J-platform is a programming platform, JavaScript is a scripting platform, which is prototype-based as well as dynamic. That is the main difference between the two. However, that is not all. Let us discuss the differences between the two in details.

Java is designed in such a way so that the same code(s) run(s) on multiple platforms. This implies that the developers have the option of performing WORA or “Write once and run anywhere”. Therefore, it can well be said that the Java applications are normally compiled for bycoding.

On the other hand, JavaScript comes with ECMAScript language standard formalization that allows scripts at the client side to interact with the end user directly. It also helps in controlling the browser, along with asynchronous communication. JS also can be used to alter already-displayed document content. It can also be used in various applications outside the web pages like PDF docs and site-specific browsers as well as various desktop widgets.

Now let us compare J-platform and JavaScript and draw the line of difference between the two.

JS comes up with a number of programming features that are based on Scheme language. Java is actually is Object Oriented Programming (OOP) language but JavaScript is an OOP scripting language and is not designed to create applets or the stand-alone applications.

J-language contains static typing and in case of JavaScript, typing is dynamic, where a variable is able to hold a particular object of any kind, and one cannot restrict it in anyway.

JavaScript comes up with weak type as opposed to Java, which is strongly typed. Again, Java can be loaded from the compiled bycodes, but JavaScript can be loaded as source codes that are readable by human.

The objects of J-platform are class-based, but those of JS are based on prototype. Java creates applications, which run in virtual machines or browsers, but JavaScript code is generally run solely on browsers.

J-codes are compiled, whereas JavaScript codes are all embedded within the text. The two need different plug-ins. While Java has the capacity of standing on its own, JavaScript needs to be placed inside a HTML doctor to run. Java is much larger and far more complicated compared to JS, which is far easier yet more robust compared to Java.

J-platform is generally complied into machine language before it is run on web while the JS can be geared into web pages. The constructors of Java are actually special functions that can be termed as object creator. On the other hand, JS constructors are just a bunch of some standard functions.

While J-platform comes up with non-block statements that end with semicolon, JS allows insertion of semicolons only at the end of certain lines. J-language uses bock-based scoping while JS uses scoping that is function-based.

J-platform provides a lot of scopes for various non-static methods as well as implicit class scopes while JS comes up with implicit global scope. JavaScript supports closures but Java has the capacity to simulate these ‘closures’ by using various anonymous classes. To get maximum benefits of Java, you may consider hiring services of a certified Java website development company.

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