Differences between TypeScript and JavaScript

Introduction 

TypeScript and JavaScript are object-oriented and server-side programming languages respectively. Typescript is considered the superset of javascript and it is an open-source language. Both programming languages are very different from each other.

In this article, we will see the differences between javascript and typescript. 

What is JavaScript

Javascript is the most widely used HTML and Web programming language. JavaScript is a lightweight, cross-platform object-based scripting language. It's used to make dynamic client-side pages. Scripts are programs written in the JavaScript programming language. The scripts are embedded in HTML pages and run as soon as the page is loaded. It is provided as plain text and can be run without any special preparation or compilation.

History of JavaScript

JavaScript, created by Brendan Eich in 1995 while working at Netscape Communications, was originally named Mocha. Later, it was briefly known as LiveScript before being renamed JavaScript to leverage Java's popularity. It became a vital client-side scripting language for web browsers, allowing dynamic content and interactivity. 

In 1997, it was standardized as ECMAScript. Over the years, JavaScript's versatility and community-driven development led to its dominance in web development, enabling interactive and responsive websites. It also found application in server-side environments with Node.js. Today, JavaScript is integral to modern web development, powering a majority of websites and web applications.

What is TypeScript?

TypeScript is an open-source, object-oriented programming language. It's a JavaScript superset with strong typing that compiles to ordinary JavaScript. The typeScript was developed and is maintained by Microsoft under the Apache 2 license. The browser does not provide quick access. A compiler is required to compile and create a JavaScript file. The TypeScript source file is indicated by the ".ts" suffix. We may utilize any genuine ".js" file by renaming it to ".ts." TypeScript is an ES6-based improved version of JavaScript. The distinctions between typescript and javascript will be thoroughly discussed. 

History of TypeScript

TypeScript, developed by Anders Hejlsberg at Microsoft, was first unveiled in October 2012. It emerged as a superset of JavaScript, aiming to address the limitations of dynamic typing in large-scale applications. TypeScript introduced static typing, enabling developers to define variable types and catch potential errors during development. It quickly gained traction in the web development community, especially for building complex and scalable applications. 

Microsoft open-sourced TypeScript in 2014, leading to collaborative contributions and widespread adoption. The language continues to evolve, with regular updates and strong support for modern JavaScript features. Today, TypeScript is a popular choice for robust and maintainable web development.

Differences between TypeScript and JavaScript

Why JavaScript? 

• Microsoft sponsors an open-source project.
   
• The tool was created specifically for tiny scripts.
   
• Classes, interfaces, and modules are all supported.
   
• Any browser can run compiled JavaScript.
   
• Cross-compilation is possible.
   
• JavaScript may be extended to write big apps.
   
• Support for classes, interfaces, and modules has been added.

Advantages of JavaScript

There are many advantages of javascript. Some of them are as follows.

• As javascript is an interpreted language and the server-side script, it has good speed and takes lesser time for execution.
   
• It runs on the client side, so the load on the server is reduced.
   
• Javascript is an easy-learning language.
   
• It provides many interfaces for the developers using javascript.
   
• It is the most used scripting language for web development.
   
• There is no need to install anything to run the language, as it is supported by most browsers.

Disadvantages of JavaScript

The following are the disadvantages of javascript.

• Javascript runs on the client side, so the user can see the javascript code and it can easily be misused by anyone.
   
• As the browser doesn’t show any error in the javascript, so it is harder to identify the errors.
   
• Javascript runs differently in different browsers so it has to be checked by many browsers before publishing the website.
   
• Sometimes a single error can stop the rendering of the website. So, it is also the drawback of it.

Features of JavaScript

The features of javascript are as follows.

• It is a lightweight scripting language.
   
• Javascript supports Object Oriented Programming.
   
• It is a platform-independent prototype-based programming language.
   
• Javascript can use its function as an object.
   
• Javascript also supports async processing, which means functions are called parallel instead of called one by one.

Why TypeScript? 

• TypeScript supports JS libraries and API documentation.
   
• It is a superset of JavaScript and is an optionally typed programming language.
   
• TypeScript code may be converted to JavaScript code.
   
• Tool support, object-oriented programming methods, and improved code structure reduce development time.
   
• It may go beyond the standard decorators like async/await

Features of TypeScript 

JavaScript is TypeScript 

By changing the extension from.js to.ts, any JavaScript code may be transformed to TypeScript.

TypeScript can be used anywhere

TypeScript is portable, meaning it can run on any browser, device, or operating system. TypeScript is not limited to a particular platform.

JS libraries are supported by TypeScript

Developers can use TypeScript to call the TS Code from native JavaScript code, include popular JavaScript libraries, or reuse existing JavaScript code.

Since TypeScript code cannot be understood directly by browsers, it is translated into Plain JavaScript code. As a result, TypeScript code is compiled and transformed into JavaScript. Trans-piled is the term for this procedure. Browsers can read and display the code with the help of JavaScript code.

You can compile with the help of Online Javascript Compiler for better understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is it better to learn JavaScript or TypeScript?

Start with JavaScript for foundational web development. Then, learn TypeScript for its added type safety and scalability benefits in larger projects.

Is TypeScript or JavaScript easier?

JavaScript is generally considered easier due to its simpler syntax. TypeScript, while powerful, requires additional understanding of static typing concepts.

Why do we use TypeScript instead of JavaScript?

TypeScript offers static typing, aiding in early error detection, code maintainability, and scalability for larger projects, making it preferable for complex applications.

What is '!' In TypeScript?

In TypeScript, the exclamation mark (`!`) denotes a non-null assertion operator, used to indicate that a variable is not null or undefined, suppressing type checking.

Compare Learning Curve between JavaScript and TypeScript?  

The learning curve for TypeScript is steep. It also necessitates scripting expertise.

JavaScript is a simple to learn and versatile web scripting language.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed in brief what is Javascript and TypeScript, the features of javascript, the features of typescript, and what are the differences between typescript and javascript. Hope this article clears all the doubts regarding the typescript and javascript and the differences between typescript and javascript, please upvote if you found the content interesting.

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Thank you for reading. 

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