Java and Javascript

Many people assume that as JavaScript has "Java" in its name they both are somehow related. While many coders groan at this coupling and many even feel that this naming confusion is just a part of a marketing gimmick, the history of these two popular programming languages did intersect for a very brief moment in time during the early days of Netscape. 

Java, an introduction

Java is a high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. It was originally designed for developing programs for set-top boxes and handheld devices, but later became a popular choice for creating web applications.

The Java syntax is similar to C++, but is strictly an object-oriented programming language. 

Java is a programming language invented by James Gosling and developed by Sun Microsystems. It took a little over 10 days to develop - it was close to four years old. In 1991, a group of Sun Microsystem engineers worked the "Green Team" day and night to create Java. It was first released in 1995, and many new versions have been launched since then. Today's Internet is absolutely saturated with Java-based programming, and we have Java to thank for the many applications that make day-to-day life easier. Java is currently owned by Oracle.

You can learn more here. 

JavaScript, an introduction

JavaScript is the Programming Language for the Web. JavaScript can update and change both HTML and CSS. JavaScript can calculate, manipulate and validate data.

In the early days of the Internet, around 1990, Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator were the two most popular web browsers used by the general public. In just 10 days, a developer named Brendan Eich at Netscape, Inc. was able to create a programming language that could instruct a computer to interact with the user upon receiving user input. He called this language "LiveScript" and integrated it directly into the navigator.

This meant that the browser was literally interpreting the user's commands; The code did not have to be compiled, and plug-ins were not required. Another programming language, Java, was gaining popularity around the same time, even though Java required a separate plug-in for the function. Netscape saw the opportunity and named its language "JavaScript". JavaScript was unavoidable in the early days of the Internet.

You can learn more here.

Java vs. Javascript

Java is a class-based programming language designed for fast execution and type safety. Type safety means, for instance, that you can't cast a Java integer into an object reference or access private memory by corrupting Java bytecodes. Java's class-based model means that programs consist exclusively of classes and their methods. Java's class inheritance and strong typing generally require tightly coupled object hierarchies. These requirements make Java programming more complex than JavaScript programming.

In contrast, JavaScript descends in spirit from a line of smaller, dynamically typed languages such as HyperTalk and dBASE. These scripting languages offer programming tools to a much wider audience because of their easier syntax, specialized built-in functionality, and minimal requirements for object creation.

Primary Differences Between Java and JavaScript

Both Java and JavaScript are written, assembled and executed differently, and each has dramatic differences when it comes to what it is capable of doing.

Java is used in a wide range of places, including Android apps, credit card programming and in the creation of desktop applications and web enterprise applications. By comparison, JavaScript is mainly used to make web pages more interactive. It can be used as an alternative to Flash, though most programmers will tell you that JavaScript is more popular and has more functionality than Flash. JavaScript can be used to do neat things like creating animation in HTML.

In a nutshell, when it comes to how each language is used, Java is typically used for all server side development, while JavaScript is reserved for developing client side scripts for functions like validation and interactivity. There are some other key differences:

• Java code must be compiled, and JavaScript code is all-text.
• Each language requires different plug-ins.
• JavaScript code is run on a browser only, while Java creates applications that run in a virtual machine or browser.
• Java is an OOP (object-oriented programming) language, and JavaScript is specifically an OOP scripting language.

A new student of programming will learn that both Java and JavaScript are worthwhile languages to add to their coding repertoire. In fact, many programmers and developers say that learning these two languages early on, back to back, is a very wise move for a new programmer. Without a doubt, having Java and JavaScript under one's belt will make a programmer more employable and will lead to more lucrative job opportunities down the road.