Introduction
JavaScript vs Python are two of the most popular and biggest Web Development Languages.
Comparing JavaScript vs Python is like comparing apples and oranges. Though both are used in web development, they work on different ends. JavaScript is best suited for the client side, while Python is best for the server side. There are many differences and, surprisingly, a few similarities between the two mammoths of a programming language.
Python is known for its simple and elegant language design. It is used for machine learning, data engineering, and back-end development. On the other hand, JavaScript has a syntax similar to Java’s. It is mostly used on the front end, though with new technologies like Node.js and React Native; JavaScript is now also used in back-end and mobile development.
So, what are the major differences between JavaScript vs Python? Which is better than another, and which should you learn for a career in web development? Let’s get down to it.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript is a scripting language that helps you create interactive web pages. It follows the rules of client-side programming, so it runs in the user’s web browser without the need for any resources from the web server.
You can also use JavaScript with other technologies like REST APIs, XML, and more. Nowadays, JavaScript is also using technologies like Node js.
Applications of JavaScript
Here are the important applications of JavaScript:
- It allows you to build secure and scalable applications.
- Dynamic Single-Page Applications (SPAs)
- Front-End technologies like jQuery, AngularJS, Ember.js, ReactJS are based on JavaScript
- Server-Side technologies like MongoDB, Node.js, and Express.js are based on Java Script.
- It is also used for mobile app development using React, PhoneGap, etc.
Features of JavaScript
Here are the important features of JavaScript:
- It’s a cross-platform language
- It’s widely used for client-side and server-side
- Strong Testing Workflow
- It’s easy to learn and to start coding with
- Offers added dependencies
What is Python?
Python is a high-level object-oriented programming language. It has built-in data structures, combined with dynamic binding and typing, which makes it an ideal choice for rapid application development.
Python also offers support for modules and packages, which allows system modularity and code reuse. It is one of the fastest programming languages as it requires very few lines of code. Its emphasis is on readability and simplicity, which make it a great choice for beginners. Below are the key differences between JavaScript vs Python .
Applications of Python
Here are the important applications of Python:
- Language for AI, Machine learning and Deep learning
- Rapid prototyping web scripting
- Ad hoc programming
- Scientific applications
- XML processing
- Database applications
- Used for GUI applications
Features of Python
Here are the important features of Python:
- Easy to learn, read, and maintain
- It can run on various hardware platforms & using the same interface.
- You can include low-level modules to the Python interpreter.
- Python offers an ideal structure and support for large programs.
- Python offers support for automatic garbage collection.
- It supports an interactive mode of testing and debugging.
- It offers high-level dynamic data types and also supports dynamic type checking.
- Python language can be integrated with Java, C, and C++ programming code
- Easy concurrency support via goroutines
- Fast compilation times
- Statically linked binaries which are simple to deploy
JavaScript vs Python: Similarities
Both JavaScript vs Python are object oriented. In both languages, you can define a class, create properties that add to the class, and then create an object that contains classes.
Both also use functions and variables that don’t necessarily rely on class definitions. This is where the similarities stop, however, because the specific intention and goals behind each language moves them in different directions.
JavaScript vs Python: Key Differences
Before we move on to discuss the difference between JavaScript vs Python , it’s important for you to remember that these two of the greatest programming languages do not necessarily replace each other. As a matter of fact, you can make the most of their benefits by using them together. Instagram handles its enormous traffic by doing so – using JavaScript for the client-side and Python for the server-side.
But since we are here to pick a clear winner between them, we have dug into their worlds and brought up a set of parameters to compare and contrast. Here are the key factors you should take into account:
Here is the main difference between JavaScript vs Python :
JavaScript vs Python for Beginners
JavaScript has a steeper learning curve and is not very easy to learn, whereas Python is the most beginner-friendly language and hence, a lot simpler to grasp. So for the question: Is JavaScript easier than Python? The answer is no. Unless you have some past coding experience, you may find getting along with JavaScript difficult.
Between JS vs Python, the reasons why beginners usually prefer Python are its fewer structural lines, concise and readable code, simple functions and variables, and faster development process. On the contrary, it is comparatively a lot harder to get the hang of JavaScript. It’s full of complicated class definitions and hence, is not easy to debug.
JavaScript vs Python Web Development
Web apps built with JavaScript code better, work faster, and manage a pile of data, whereas Python web development takes longer to respond.
JavaScript excels in this field due to the asynchronous programming nature of the best Node.js frameworks that offer high-end scalability to the apps. On the flip side, Python is the perfect choice for the server-side, provides a steady environment with frameworks like Django, Pyramid, and Flask, and optimizes the development process.
It’s possible to create GUI apps with Python, although it did not support the development of native-looking mobile apps in the beginning. And developers frequently use JavaScript for mobile app development as well, though its primary goal was website development and management.
Javascript vs Python Syntax
The differences and similarities between the two languages also become apparent when contrasting a code sample:
Python’s design goal for simplicity is clear at the level of code blocks. The following mathematics shows the emphasis on simplicity as Python makes use of indentation, whereas JavaScript uses curly braces to separate blocks.
If we were running a small quiz program, and asking the quiz taker to state the year Python or JavaScript was released, the code would resemble:
For Python:
if year = 1991:
print("yes, Python was released in" + year)
For Javascript:
if ((year = 1995)) {
console.log("yes, JS was released in" + year);
}Even in this small example, you can see the differences in syntax.
JavaScript vs Python Libraries
Python comes with many ready-to-use modules and libraries, whereas JavaScript does not have as many in-built modules as Python except a few, like JSON and Math.
Python is essentially a “batteries included” language and thus offers an extensive set of components to enable developers to perform multiple tasks like machine learning, data analytics, and scientific programs. Contrastingly, JavaScript consists of a few pre-configured modules. But you can hire dedicated developers and extend its functionality via the host environment.
JavaScript vs Python Speed
In terms of speed and performance, Python is a great choice for CPU-intensive tasks, whereas JavaScript is more suitable for dynamic and real-time interactions.
The whole purpose of inventing JavaScript was to make it fast on the web with improved user engagement. Hence, it’s moderately faster due to the multithreading feature of Node.js, which Python lacks. That’s why the topic of Node.js vs Python for back-end development is often relevant in the development industry.
On the flip side, Python is the best solution for the processing of huge data files, CPU-intensive projects, and large-scale applications. And if your developers know how to optimize Python code with Cython or NumPy, it will result in enhanced performance as well.
JavaScript vs Python Popularity
The criterion of popularity between JavaScript vs Python has been changing its form as both these languages have been winning the hearts of users for their own unique strengths. But if we have to be more precise, Python has been taking the edge in recent times.
According to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022, JavaScript is the most commonly used programming language (10th in a row).
Python app development, on the other hand, is recently flipping the boat upside down, as demonstrated in some surveys. For example, the 2022 PYPL Index stated that Python is the most popular programming language, pushing JavaScript to the third position.
And according to the TIOBE Programming Community Index 2022, Python has secured the top position, beating Java, C, and JavaScript.
JavaScript vs Python Scalability
On the subject of scalability, JavaScript apps are highly scalable for their multithreading feature, whereas Python apps are less scalable as they run one thread at a time.
If you want your application to scale as per growing business requirements, you should straight away consider Node.js development that’s built on JavaScript. You can increase the number of threads and scale the application whenever needed.
Contrastingly, Python uses GIL (Global Interpreter Lock) that does not support concurring programming very well, and hence, makes it harder to use multiple processors with threads. However, you can use its multiprocessing library to get the upper hand on distributed workflow.
Javascript vs Python Memory Management
When it comes to memory, I found that performance and memory consumption of frameworks with JavaScript and Python varied, but JavaScript made use of lower computer memory levels in comparison to Python.
They found that Django, a web development framework that uses Python, was a slower framework compared to the Express and Fastify frameworks running with JavaScript. Overall, CPU and IO operation management was more effective in the JavaScript framework cases.
JavaScript vs Python Inheritance
There are four fundamental principles of object-oriented programming language, and inheritance is one of them. This approach refers to the capability of one class to inherit the methods and attributes of the parent class or any other class.
JavaScript is not a pure object-oriented programming language, whereas Python is an authentic OOP language using a class-based inheritance structure. Although JavaScript ushered in the concept of classes, it depends on a software prototype-based model to support inheritance.
JavaScript vs Python Salary
Learning a new language is great, but it’s important to learn a language that’s going to earn your money back.
According to the 2020 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Python developers earn a median salary of $120k a year and JavaScript developers earn $112k, but that’s not all.
Along with being well paid, JavaScript ranked number 1 for the most popular language used by developers for the eighth year in a row, and Python ranked number 3. They also ranked highly for most wanted, with Python in spot number 1 and JavaScript just behind in spot number 2.
Overall, both JavaScript vs Python are the top desired and used languages by developers and offer well-paying careers.
Now to put a cherry on the top, we have summarized some other key differences between JavaScript vs Python in the following table. Take a quick look at it and pick your winner!
| JavaScript | Python |
|---|---|
| JavaScript has no concept of mutable and immutable | Python has mutable and immutable data types. |
| JavaScript should be encoded as UTF-16 as it does not offer any built-in support for manipulating raw bytes. | Python source code is ASCII by default unless you are specifying any encoding format. |
| JavaScript has only floating-point numbers. | In Python, there are many different numeric types like int, fixed-point decimal, etc. |
| JavaScript uses curly brackets | Python uses indentation |
| JavaScript has fewer modules like date, math, regexp, JSON. | Python includes a wide range of modules. |
| JavaScript objects have properties that can be composed of underlying attributes which let you define a property. | In the Python programming language, getter and setter functions are used to define an attribute. |
| JavaScript uses a prototype-based inheritance model. | Python uses the class-based inheritance model. |
| In addition to front-end and back-end development, JavaScript is also a good option for mobile development. | Python is not a good fit for developing Mobile applications. |
| JavaScript helps you to build a website or native application. | Python is for tasks related to data analytics, machine learning, and math-intensive operations. |
When to Use JavaScript and When to Use Python?
Asking which is better is like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg?
While structurally there are some similarities between JavaScript and Python, they are ultimately masters of their respective domains.
So if you are still wondering: Should I learn Python or JavaScript? Follow these points:
- If you are doing web development, the better choice is to consider the trio of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- If you’re interested in a modern yet established language, working in start-up environments, and getting creative with web development, then JavaScript is the language for you.
- People who want to learn machine learning, data science, and neural networks should consider learning Python
- If robust and minimalist languages, experimental fields, and pushing the boundaries on AI and machine learning intrigue you, then opt for Python as a career choice.
Python is usable as a frontend language as transpilers that convert Python code to JavaScript make the applications slower. That’s why it is better to use Python for backend development and stick to JavaScript for frontend.
In reality, both languages have the potential to satisfy any of these cravings – machine learning, web development, modern, start-up – and both come with the promise of exciting and well-paying futures.
At Optymize we’re big fans of both JavaScript and Python, and think they’re two of the best languages for web development. If you are looking to hire developers, give us a call. We provide top 3% of the best JavaScript and Python developers to develop your projects in a fast and efficient manner. Book a session now.
