Difference between TypeScript and JavaScript (original) (raw)
Last Updated : 09 Jan, 2025
Ever wondered about the difference between JavaScript and TypeScript? If you’re into web development, knowing these two languages is super important. They might seem alike, but they’re actually pretty different and can affect how you code and build stuff online.
In this article, we’ll break down the gap between JavaScript and TypeScript. We’ll talk about what makes each one special, where they shine, and when you might wanna pick one over the other.
**Why do We Need TypeScript When We have JavaScript?
JavaScript, initially designed as a client-side language, expanded to server-side use. However, its growing complexity and limitations in Object-Oriented Programming hindered its enterprise adoption. To address this, TypeScript was created to enhance JavaScript, providing static typing and features for robust enterprise-level server-side development.
**Features of TypeScript
- **Transpilation to JavaScript: TypeScript code is transpiled into JavaScript for browser interpretation, enabling browsers to read and display the code.
- **JavaScript to TypeScript Conversion: Code in JavaScript can be converted to TypeScript by changing the file extension from .js to .ts.
- **Versatile TypeScript Usage: TypeScript can be compiled to run on any browser, device, or operating system, making it adaptable to diverse environments.
- **JavaScript Library Support: TypeScript seamlessly supports existing JavaScript code, allows the integration of popular JavaScript libraries, and facilitates calling TypeScript code from native JavaScript.
**Difference Between TypeScript and JavaScript
- TypeScript is known as an Object-oriented programming language whereas JavaScript is a prototype-based language.
- TypeScript has a feature known as Static typing but JavaScript does not support this feature.
- TypeScript supports Interfaces but JavaScript does not.
| Feature | TypeScript | JavaScript |
|---|---|---|
| Typing | Provides static typing | Dynamically typed |
| Tooling | Comes with IDEs and code editors | Limited built-in tooling |
| Syntax | Similar to JavaScript, with additional features | Standard JavaScript syntax |
| Compatibility | Backward compatible with JavaScript | Cannot run TypeScript in JavaScript files |
| Debugging | Stronger typing can help identify errors | May require more debugging and testing |
| Learning curve | Can take time to learn additional features | Standard JavaScript syntax is familiar |
When Should You Use TypeScript?
- **Error Prevention: TypeScript catches errors at compile time, reducing the likelihood of runtime issues. This is particularly valuable in large projects where debugging can become time-consuming.
- **Static Typing: With TypeScript, you can define types for variables, functions, and objects, which makes your code more predictable and easier to maintain. This is especially useful in team environments where consistency is key.
- **Scalability: If you’re working on a large project or planning to scale your application, TypeScript’s features like interfaces, enums, and generics can help manage complexity.
When to Stick with JavaScript
- **Simplicity and Speed: JavaScript is faster to get started with, especially for smaller projects or when you need to build something quickly. Since it’s dynamically typed, you can write less code without worrying about types.
- **Familiarity: If you’re already comfortable with JavaScript and working on smaller projects, there might not be an immediate need to switch to TypeScript.
**Advantages of using TypeScript over JavaScript
- TypeScript always points out the compilation errors at the time of development (pre-compilation). Because of this getting runtime errors is less likely, whereas JavaScript is an interpreted language.
- TypeScript supports static/strong typing. This means that type correctness can be checked at compile time. This feature is not available in JavaScript.
- TypeScript is nothing but JavaScript and some additional features i.e. ES6 features. It may not be supported in your target browser but the TypeScript compiler can compile the ****.ts** files into ES3, ES4, and ES5 also.
**Disadvantages of using TypeScript over JavaScript
- **Compilation Time: TypeScript needs to be compiled to JavaScript, which can add an extra step to your development process.
- **Learning Curve: While TypeScript’s additional features are powerful, they require time to learn and master.
JavaScript is best known for web page development but it is also used in a variety of non-browser environments. You can learn JavaScript from the ground up by following this JavaScript Tutorial and JavaScript Examples.