TypeScript vs JavaScript – Do you Know the Difference?

When it comes to web development, you may have seen multiple programming languages used on the same website. Well, all the languages being used in web development serve different purposes. But do you know the difference between the two major programming languages: TypeScript and JavaScript?

Well, simply put, TypeScript is JavaScript with types, but JavaScript is not TypeScript. It might be a puzzle for you. As a developer, you might be hearing more and more about TypeScript or wonder what the difference between it and JavaScript is. While both are programming languages, their features, purpose, and usage can vary drastically, which means that you should know what to look out for before using either one in your next project. Here’s everything you need to know about TypeScript and how it’s different from JavaScript so that you can use them effectively in your next project.

What is TypeScript?

TypeScript is a coding language that combines the simplicity and readability of JavaScript with static typing and compiles checks of a statistically typed language. It was created by Microsoft and is a superset of JavaScript with additional features such as optional inferred type declarations, classes, and modules. Programmers use TypeScript to write programs that can run on both the browser and server platforms. The type system of TypeScript allows you to write clear, concise code by providing strong typing for variables, functions, and even other types.

Features of TypeScript

TypeScript has several features that make it easy to use:

• It is a superset of the JavaScript language that you can use existing JavaScript libraries with TypeScript.

• TypeScript supports both dynamic and static typing. It provides classes, visibility scopes, interfaces, and other features.

• It has built-in support for ES6 modules and packages, so you do not have to worry about using them.

• It comes with comprehensive tooling such as compiler errors and linting tools.

• TypeScript files are automatically imported when referenced by another file, which helps ensure that all variables used within them have been declared.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a scripting language you can use on your computer to make your website or web app come alive. It is used by millions every day. JavaScript is a programming language that allows you to control the elements of a webpage or website through code, which means that you can write instructions for a browser to follow to perform tasks like opening new windows or making text appear differently on different parts of the page. Developers often use it with HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), the language used for creating web pages.

Features of JavaScript

There are many features of JavaScript that make it such an essential part of modern web development.

• It allows you to create dynamic content with data-driven websites without having to write server-side code! 917455

• JavaScript is platform-independent, or we can say it is portable, which means that you can write the script once and run it anywhere and anytime.

• JavaScript is used for implementing client-side validations.

• It is an extensive built-in library providing a wealth of useful functions for string operations, data type conversion, and validation, among other things.

Difference Between TypeScript & JavaScript

When we look at the two coding languages, both are similar up to a great extent. Both languages are employed to create interactive web pages. However, upon comparing both languages, we found some vital differences. Let us understand these below:

Performance

Typescript and JavaScript are both high-level programming languages. They are used to create websites, desktop applications, and mobile applications. However, they have different performance characteristics that may make one language more suitable for some tasks than the other one.

Typescript is a statically typed language that compiles down to JavaScript. It means that it has less runtime overhead than JavaScript, which makes it faster to develop.

Learning Curve

Another significant difference between both languages is that JavaScript, compared to TypeScript, is simple and easy to use. It is also easier for beginners because it does not require any knowledge of programming making it easy for anyone who has never written code before or learned how to program through other means, such as reading books or watching tutorials online on how to program in JavaScript. TypeScript has a stiff learning curve and requires prior scripting knowledge for you to code.

Developer’s Community

TypeScript gained immense popularity in a short period and has been implemented by many enterprises. It has a very active community. On the other hand, as the most popular language, JavaScript has more available resources and a massive community because to learn TypeScript, one must know JavaScript.

Typing

Since JavaScript is a dynamically typed language, thus it gets more challenging to know what is inside each variable. However, static typing is a feature of TypeScript making it superior to JavaScript, as it allows the developer to check type accuracy during compile time. It is not possible in JavaScript, because the type verification is performed at runtime only.

Project-Scale

TypeScript is suitable for large-scale projects and complex apps with global development teams. The development time can be shortened and the workflows can be improved with TypeScript. Whereas, for small-scale projects, JavaScript, with a clear and accurate structure, is perfect for compact and simple apps.

Key Takeaway

In conclusion, the use of a particular language depends upon the project you are working on, as both languages have their specifications and benefits. Although TypeScript has more advantages than JavaScript, again, it depends on the type of website you are working on.