Typescript VS Javascript: Which is a Better Programming Language?

Summary: After the significant growth of eCommerce, web app development got a whole new growth opportunity. Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba are the ones that added value to the change.

Tech advancements in programming languages, frameworks, and other outstanding digital innovations are the pioneers of the invention. In this blog, we will discuss one of the most famous comparisons of Javascript and Typescript. Dive into Typescript vs Javascript 2023!

The Evolution of Javascript Over the Years

Since 1995, Javascript has been around in the technical world. It was invented as a client-side programming language and became a popular scripting language in the developer’s community. Currently, there are 97.0% of websites run on tech advancement. 

Consistently for the ninth year, Javascript has been among web programmers’ most commonly used programming languages. 

The tech stack binds well with REST APIs, XML, & more. With time, JS came a long way from ECMA script 1 to ES6 in all support. It was meant to become a complementary scripting language like Visual Basic was to C++ in Microsoft. However, Javascript needed the capability to handle large and complex applications. Besides, it was developed to handle a few hundred lines of code.  

In other words! The original purpose of JS was to be a client-side language, but in its later utilization, the programmers realized it was a server-side language too. It could have been used as a tech stack for both the development, making it a heavy and complex coding structure. 

As a result, JavaScript could not even satisfy the criteria for an Object-Oriented Programming language. Due to this, it started to fail as a server-side technology for the enterprise. To fill this gap, the development team developed TypeScript.

The Emergence of Typescript

Alas, every best advancement has an alternative invention in the market. The Typescript programming language was introduced as an enhanced version of Javascript with additional features. So, now let’s begin with its brief definition.

What is Typescript?

Microsoft created Typescript in 2012 to handle large-scale applications. It is a modern-age Javascript development language. Besides, by statically compiling Typescript, you can write clear, simple code. Thus, it efficiently runs on any browser supporting ECMA3 or newer versions. 

For a large Javascript project, adopting Typescript can bring out a more robust software that is easily deployable with a basic JS application. It fulfills Javascript’s exact purpose and can be used as a client-side and server-side language. Lastly, the advancement is compatible with the JS libraries giving more flexibility to a developer for developing a web app.

55,944 websites use Typescript. 17,460 live websites are using the tech stack. Of course! These numbers are too low compared to Javascript, but still, they are accountable for its existence & online practices.

After an overview of both programming languages, let’s get into Typescript vs Javascript differences, advantages, and more.

Javascript vs Typescript: The Difference

According to Google Trends report, Typescript vs Javascript in the past year has been dominated by Javascript programming language. Why is there so much optimism about the language? Let’s dig deep!

Typescript is a superset of Javascript. And so, it effectively understands Javascript’s syntax and capabilities by adding some extra features.

It will execute perfectly fine if you save a Javascript programming file (.js) with a Typescript (.ts) extension. But that does not prove that both languages are the same.

Typescript vs Javascript Examples

Let’s start with a Javascript snippet

Here, var1 changes from being a string to a number.

We can redefine var1 anytime as a variable of any type, from a string to a function, as JavaScript is only loosely typed.

Executing the code outputs 10.

Let’s change the code into Typescript:

Herein, var1 is a string. We then attempt to give it a number, but TypeScript’s rigid type system forbids this. Resulting in an error:

The original Javascript snippet can be treated as Typescript by telling the transpiler to do so; var1 will then be automatically inferred to be a string or a number. The var1 variable may always be assigned a string or a number thanks to the typescript union type. Furthermore, our Typescript code would successfully transpile after resolving the type issue, yielding the same outcome as the Javascript example

What does Typescript provide in the Javascript ecosystem?

Typescript supports dynamic and static typing. In addition, it provides scopes, namespaces, unions, and other features. The Javascript alternative offers comments, variables, statements, modules, and functions.

Besides, it also provides files that can include type data from current object files. Thus, other apps can use the values defined in files just as Typescript entitles statically typed values. A developer will also find third-party header files for libraries like jQuery, D3.js, and Mongo DB. Finally, it also has headers for NodeJS elementary modules that allow NodeJS development with Typescript.

The compiler of Typescript is registered under Apache License 2.0. The point is, why will someone go after adding static typing to Javascript? Read the following points below:

• You can easily avoid hidden errors like the classic ‘undefined’ is not a function.
• Refactoring code without breaking it significantly.
• Moreover, it provides easy orientation in large-scale or complex systems.

A study shows Typescript identifies around 15% of all Javascript errors. 

Due to the freedom of dynamic typing, errors frequently happen, which decreases developer productivity and might hinder development due to the rising costs of adding additional lines of code.

Due to its lack of types and compile-time error checks, JavaScript could be a better choice for server-side programs in organizations and huge codebases. Thus, Typescript is Javascript that scales. 

The enhanced version of Javascript has optional types. And any Javascript file is a valid Typescript file. On the other hand, the compiler will directly notify you if there is any typing error in the initial files. In this scenario, too, Typescript will provide you with a Javascript file. And thus, improve one’s skills and standing up to an individual’s expectations. 

Key Difference Between Javascript and Typescript

• Javascript is a scripting language for web pages, whereas Typescript is a superset of Javascript.
• Typescript code needs to be compiled, while Javascript code does not.
• The latter supports prototyping, while Javascript does not support the feature. 
• Typescript has an excellent type system with generics & JS features for a large project, whereas Javascript is only ideal for a small project. 

Why Javascript?	Why Typescript?
An open-source powered by Microsoft	It efficiently supports JS libraries & API documentation
Specifically for small scripts	A superset of Javascript
It supports classes, interfaces, and modules	Typescript is easy-to-covert JS code
Allows cross-compilation	It has a tremendous object-oriented programming technique
Compiled JS runs on any browser	Extends language beyond standard decorators, async/await

One-on-One Comparision: Typescript vs Javascript

Both programming languages have many things in common regarding developing interactive web pages. JavaScript is a lightweight, interpreted, and dynamic language that enhances HTML web pages. Contrarily, TypeScript is an improved iteration of JavaScript. It means that TypeScript combines JavaScript’s features with a few more features. Now, without doing any further due, let’s dive into the vital differences- between Javascript vs Typescript.

Parameter	Typescript	Javascript
Year of Existence	2012 by Microsoft	Brendan Eich (Netscape) 1995
Define languages	An object-oriented language, a superset of Javascript with generic and JS features to overcome complexities in javascript	It is a scripting language with functions to develop dynamic web apps
Dynamic/static typing	Strongly typed. It supports both dynamic and static typing	Loosely typed. It supports only dynamic typing
Which ecosystems?	A more potent and logical language that allows static typing is TypeScript.	JavaScript is a straightforward language that makes code compatible and is simple to understand and write.
Code compilation	It does need to be compiled	It does not need code compilation
Data binding	It does have interfaces and types to define the data being employed	JavaScript does not have such a concept.
Learning curve	It does require scripting knowledge	It is easy to learn and flexible language for writing web scripts
Client-side/Server-side	It is specifically used on the client-side	It is used on the client-side and server-side
Community size	It has a smaller community	It has a larger community
File extensions	.tsx and .ts	.js
Companies & websites	Asana, Clever	Airbnb, Instagram

Some other Factors for Comparing Javascript and Typescript

1) Learning Curve

Being a superset of Javascript, Typescript is hard to get hands-on with. An individual must have apt knowledge of JS along with the OOPS concept. And so, it does have a steep learning curve.

The easy-to-learn scripting language Javascript provides users with a flexible learning curve. The advancement is used with CSS and HTML to create web applications. However, HTML is tough to handle, as it contains varied web behavior, animation, and scripting.

2) Community Support

Undoubtedly, Javascript is meant to have a larger community than Typescript. After all, it is a father-son relationship with both languages. It has many libraries, frameworks, and code practices best suit businesses. And with the growing bandwidth, eventually, JS got support from the developers’ community.

Whereas, Typescript gained popularity in a short time by many enterprises. You may find tutorials and guides all over the internet. Thus, its community is active but on a small scale compared to JS.

3) Performance

As we all know, TypeScript was developed to address JavaScript’s limitations when used in high-level, sophisticated applications. Thus, TypeScript reduces development time and boosts developer productivity. The conversion of TypeScript code into JavaScript before execution is the only distinction between TypeScript and JavaScript.

4) Syntax

Typescript consists of variable declaration, functional paradigm, and type system, which JS doesn’t offer. In terms of syntax, it is similar to JScript and .Net. The advancement also supports ECMAScript2015 Standard features, including module classes and an arrow function syntax.

JavaScript follows the ECMAScript definition.It is not a typed language like TypeScript, though. The advancement uses C’s structured programming language extensively, including if statements, switch statements, do-while loops, and many others. Thus, it offers functional, imperative, and event-driven programming styles.

5) Tools and Frameworks

Typescript is powered by Microsoft, which gives it the upper hand with leading frameworks and editors. Through tight integrations with editors, it provides error handling during compilation to avoid runtime errors.

On the other hand, Javascript has a vast ecosystem that is quite popular among programmers. Thus, one can quickly find developers specializing in ReactJS, VueJS, Angular, and other frameworks.

6) Coding

Typescript:-

Javascript:-

What are the Main Advantages of Typescript?

1. Strict typing: Define things your way. If you decide a variable always to be a number? It will be a number, then.
2. Structural typing: Relying on a specific structure is a much safer solution when there are particular things to define. So, Typescript provides an indispensable structure for developing seamless web apps.
3. Type inference: Because TypeScript performs implicit typing, your developers don’t have to provide types in places where the compiler can locate them on its own.

Microsoft was already leveraging C#, frequently referred to as “the better Java,” and expanding its use of server-side applications. But JavaScript was the most popular product on the front end of the market. It is why Microsoft decided to create a language based on JavaScript, but it had more features in common with other backend languages.

Microsoft created Typescript to be more suitable for large-scale solutions. ECMAScript 6 introduced new features & syntax. Abstract classes or access modifiers are still only available in Typescript. 

Furthermore, there are other prominent features of the tech advancement:-

• It increases project productivity and is simple to maintain.
• The use of static typing and annotations is possible.
• Supports object-oriented features such as classes, inheritance, and interfaces
• Simple debugging allows for early problem identification.
• Supports ES6 (ECMAScript), which offers a more user-friendly syntax for Handling inheritance and objects.
• Support for fully-fledged IDE

In addition, there are some other features too that are supported by Typescript.

• Namespaces
• Interfaces
• Null checking
• Generics
• Access modifiers

Make a Choice: Javascript vs Typescript

Typescript

There are three significant reasons for you when it comes to choosing a JS alternative.

#1 Compile time type checking: Type verification runs at runtime, adding to the runtime overhead. Thus, eliminate such a time, and avoid it by compiling time validation with Typescript.

#2 Large-scale projects or multiple developers: When several developers are contributing to a project or working on it collaboratively, TypeScript runs smoothly. It is the best choice for large-scale projects.

#3 Easy to work with new libraries or frameworks: If you are unfamiliar with React’s APIs, you can get IntelliSense to identify and navigate new interfaces. In addition to it, they both provide type definitions.

Javascript

#1 Small projects: Typescript may be too much for small projects with fewer codes. But, works wonders for the business.

#2 Supportive frameworks: You might not be able to use the functionalities of your chosen framework, EmberJS if TypeScript doesn’t support it.

#3 Build tools: Developing JavaScript applications without any build tools is becoming increasingly unusual.

#4 Testing: If you hire java developers proficient enough in test-driven development, switching to Typescript is not a good choice. Thus, avoid such expenditures by opting for Javascript.

Will Typescript Replace Javascript?

Well, that is a big NO!

Speaking of TypeScript, it is a wholly different language that only shares JavaScript’s fundamental characteristics. Finally, JavaScript cannot and will not ever be replaced.

Numerous developers utilize JavaScript, one of the most well-known and fundamental technologies in software development, for both client- and server-side applications.

However, web browsers don’t execute TypeScript immediately. It converts to JavaScript compilation. JavaScript runs directly in the web browser, making it simpler to debug and compile. But not all programs are for TypeScript.

On a Concluding Note!

Both languages have their advantages and disadvantages. 

Developers that wish to write understandable, organized, and clean code should use TypeScript. We are not mentioning the many live-bug testing options and static typing that TypeScript provides.

While JavaScript isn’t a full-featured programming language, it can enhance your online site’s quality by using it alongside HTML. Additionally, you may find a lot of seasoned engineers who are adept at coding in JavaScript.

However, not all web browsers support TypeScript, much like JavaScript. And so, you can read the article above if you’re having trouble deciding between TypeScript and JavaScript.

Still unsure about which option to select? Discuss your idea with us. As a renowned Java software development company, we have all the expertise in developing custom web apps. Get your business the most suitable, scalable, and robust solution. Consult us & get a free quote for your app ideas.