Java vs Javascript
Although Java and JavaScript are similar in name, syntax, and respective standard libraries, the two programming languages are different and follow distinct design philosophies.
Java is a general-purpose high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language that is designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.
Java is intended to let programmers write once, run anywhere (WORA). This means that compiled Java code can run on all platforms that support Java without the need to recompile.
If you want to work on big data, web applications, cloud-based app development, and Android apps, you should learn Java.
On the other hand, Javascript is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. Javascript is used to make web pages dynamic and interactive.
If you are interested in web frontend design, web backend development, mobile app development, and desktop app development, you should learn Javascript.
I have worked with both Javascript and Java on web development projects, I have found each of them very useful but I have enjoyed working with Javascript because of its simplicity.
Comparing programming languages and choosing which one to learn or use for your next project can be tricky, there are many factors to consider in order to choose the right programming language for the job you want to do.
Popularity, opportunities, type of projects, salaries, resources, learning curve, etc. are some of the factors that many people consider when comparing programming languages and choosing which one to learn or use.
Here are some of the comparisons and considerations you should make when choosing to learn or use a new programming language.
JAVA VS JAVASCRIPT POPULARITY
Comparing the popularity of programming languages is not an easy task because each programming language is different.
Although the usage of many programming languages may intersect, different fields and projects may require the use of different programming languages.
Plus, other programming languages have been around for a longer time than others, giving them more time to be tried and tested, so, bear that in mind.
If you want to learn a programming language or framework solely for its popularity among developers, you should learn Javascript over Java.
Generally, Javascript is more popular than Java. According to a Stack Overflow survey of 2022, Javascript is the most commonly used programming language, it is used by 67.9% of professional developers.
Javascript is so popular that 2022 marks Javascript’s 10 years in a row as the most commonly used programming language.
On the other hand, Java is the 6th most commonly used programming language, it is used by 33.27% of professional developers.
Further, more developers love Javascript than Java. Javascript is loved by 61.46% of developers versus 38.54% of developers who dreaded it.
Java on the other hand is loved by 45.75% of developers versus 54.25% of developers who dreaded it.
So, if your choice of which programming language to learn depends on popularity, you should learn Javascript over Java.
Plus, there are more opportunities for Javascript Developers than Java developers because Javascript is used by many companies and startups than Java.
However, because Javascript is very popular and commonly used by many companies, there is going to be more competition for Javascript opportunities than for Java opportunities.
In this regard, a Java developer may get a job easily because of less competition.
Java is also one of the most popular programming languages taught to many students of computer science in many universities around the world.
Here are some jobs that you can get as a Java developer and here are jobs that you can get as a Javascript Developer.
JAVA VS JAVASCRIPT SALARIES
Another popular criterion that many people use as an incentive to learn a new programming language is salary.
Salaries for developers differ from one company to the other and from one country to the other.
Experience is another factor that comes into play as far as salaries are concerned. The more experience you have with a certain technology or programming language, the more likely you are of getting a higher salary.
Generally, Javascript developers get higher salaries than Java developers. According to a Stack Overflow survey of 2022 for top-paying technologies, Javascript Developers get an average salary of $65,580 per year while Java developers get $64,527 per year.
Glassdoor reported that in the United States, Javascript developers with 1 – 3 years of experience get a total salary of $85,795 per year.
On the other hand, Java developers with 1 – 3 years of experience get a total salary of $84,123, about $1,500 lower than Javascript developers.
So, if the salary is your major incentive for learning a language or framework, you should learn Javascript over Java because you are more likely to get a higher salary as a Javascript developer than as a Java developer.
JAVA VS JAVASCRIPT WHICH IS EASIER
Some programming languages and frameworks can be learned more easily than others.
If you want a programming language that you can easily pick up and develop different types of applications, you should learn Javascript over Java.
IS JAVA HARDER THAN JAVASCRIPT
Yes, Java is generally harder than Javascript. Java is verbose, it is not very easy to work with a Java codebase, and Java is not a beginner-friendly language, especially when compared to Javascript which is easy to pick up.
on the other hand, Javascript is far much easy to learn than Java. Javascript is beginner-friendly and it has an easy-to-understand syntax that makes it easy to write code. Getting started with Javascript is much easier than with Java.
The good news is that there are many helpful resources for both Java and Javascript to help you learn the languages. The Java and Javascript communities are very active and helpful, in case you get stuck with something.
FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS
Javascript has found uses in many different fields, Jeff Atwood jokingly said, “Any application that can be written in JavaScript, will eventually be written in JavaScript.” 😂
There are countless Javascript frameworks that make developing projects with Javascript very easy.
You can use Javascript to develop web UIs, Mobile applications, desktop applications, server-side applications, and games, just to mention a few.
Javascript powers some of the complex applications developed by some of the biggest tech companies and individual developers.
Java helps developers to write once and run everywhere (WORA). This makes Java very popular in the enterprise world. It is suitable for Android app development, web development, big data, micro-services, etc.
Another great feature of Java is its interoperability with other languages like Kotlin and Scala. This makes it easy to call Kotlin or Scala code in a Java codebase and vice-versa.
As a result, developers can add more functionality to their Java codebase seamlessly using Kotlin or Scala.
Java powers some of the complex applications developed by companies like Google, Oracle, Airbnb, Intel, Amazon, eBay, Microsoft, Pinterest, Uber, LinkedIn, Spring, Flipkart, TripAdvisor, and many others.
Also read Can Java be used for Machine Learning
SHOULD I LEARN JAVA OR JAVASCRIPT
Once you have compared the languages and evaluated all the factors, you can choose which programming language to learn or use depending on the factors that are on your side and what you want to build.
If you want a popular language that you can learn easily, develop applications quickly, fetch a higher salary, and work on web development applications, you should learn Javascript over Java.
If you want a language that can help you work on big data technology, cloud-based applications, web applications, distributed applications, and Android apps, you should learn Java over Javascript.