Java and JavaScript have similar names, so they must be similar programming languages, right? While they both have “java” in them, they are actually two very different programming languages.

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In fact, if you Google “java vs. javascript,” you’ll see many people have the same question. Both coding languages have been around a long time. But they are quite different, as you’re about to learn. One is a dominant tool in the world of enterprise software with a huge base of developers. The other is part of the three fundamental components of the world wide web. So, what’s the difference between Java and JavaScript?

Table of Contents

What is Java?

Java is what’s known as a high-level programming language, which means that it’s much easier for humans to read than the complex (low-level) code computers understand. In this way, it’s similar to popular languages like Python and C#. Sun Microsystems released Java back in 1995. Nearly 30 years later, it’s in use by almost 9 million software developers.

There are several ideas behind Java as a coding language:

  1. Java uses a programming paradigm called object oriented programming. You’ll learn more about that in a moment.
  2. Java programs should be secure.
  3. Java is that programs built with it should run on any platform. That includes Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Software made with Java is also supposed to require very little support from what are called dependencies. A lot of programs rely on large collections of code written by others to function. These are dependencies.

Finally, Java is a compiled language. Put simply, a compiled language is one that goes through a process that translates it from human-readable format to something computers can read. This translation makes programs faster than those written in interpreted languages, like Python, which essentially translate as the code runs.  

Java Features

Java is an object-oriented programming language. It uses classes, objects, and other related concepts. Classes are prototypes that define the characteristics of the objects that belong to them. Software engineers build programs by creating classes and defining all the things the objects that belong to those classes can do. Then they add objects to their software that do the actual work. A real-world analogy might be helpful: Imagine that “car” is a class. A car can move forward, backward, it can turn left and right, and come to an abrupt stop. The vehicle in your driveway can do all these things because it’s an object that belongs to the “car” class. Programmers would call every individual car an “instance” of the car object.

Java Applications

Java is responsible for some of the most powerful and popular pieces of software in the world. Minecraft, the biggest video game on the internet, was built with Java. More than 140 million players around the globe explore and build virtual creations in Minecraft’s 3D worlds. Zillow, the real estate website used by millions of people to search for houses, condos, and apartments, is a Java application. Acrobat Reader is a Java app that lets people open, review, and sign PDF documents. Amazon uses Java, and so do Netflix, Tinder, Google Earth, and Uber.

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Java Resources

Several resources can tell you more about Java, how it works, and how to use it. The best one to start with is probably the Java website from Oracle. You can download everything needed to write Java software and access