TypeScript vs JavaScript: Know The Difference
Finding a team of skilled JavaScript developers is important to make your app idea come to life. JavaScript has been an essential part of web software for a long time, and it's known for being flexible and reliable. Whether you're new to web development or have worked on big projects, you've probably realized how important JavaScript is. However, As technology changes, new options that question the status quo appear. TypeScript is a strong competitor quickly gaining popularity as an improved form of JavaScript that offers more features and better scalability.
When Microsoft created TypeScript in 2012, it was made to handle the complexity of large-scale apps. It has since become a popular language among writers and has even been used by well-known frameworks like Angular. Even though JavaScript is still the most popular language for building websites, the rise of TypeScript makes you wonder if you should change your mind. This blog will closely examine the differences and links between TypeScript and JavaScript, as well as their pros and cons.
TypeScript vs JavaScript: The Real Differences
TypeScript and JavaScript are very similar. It is often called a superset of JavaScript. This means that all code written in JavaScript can also be written in TypeScript. TypeScript adds to JavaScript by adding new features, mainly static typing, which lets writers find mistakes during compilation instead of runtime.
TypeScript has type comments, making code more reliable, especially in significant projects. This is one of the key differences between the two. Bugs are less likely to happen because this feature makes managing and modifying code easier. Conversely, HTML is more static and rigid, which can be helpful for smaller projects or making quick prototypes.
Even though these things are different, TypeScript still builds to standard JavaScript, which means it can run anywhere JavaScript can, like in a browser or on a server with Node.js. JavaScript is still more popular because it is easy to use and has been around for a long time. However, TypeScript is becoming more popular, especially in business settings and among coders who want to give their code more structure.
Search trends over the past year show that TypeScript is becoming more popular. This is because writers like its extra features and functions more and more.
Why Was TypeScript Developed Despite Having JavaScript?
JavaScript was first released as a client-side coding language that could add interactivity to websites. However, as JavaScript became more popular, coders also started to use it for server-side writing. This change showed some problems. The freedom of JavaScript was great, but it made codebases hard to manage, especially for large-scale apps, because they often needed to be easier to understand and use.
One big problem was that JavaScript needed to be a fully object-oriented programming language. This made using strong programming models like tight typing, class-based inheritance, and others hard. Because of these problems, people wanted a language that could be as flexible as JavaScript but also have more organization and be able to handle big tasks.
This is why Microsoft made TypeScript: to solve these problems. It was made to be more advanced than JavaScript, meaning all JavaScript code is proper TypeScript code. TypeScript, on the other hand, adds classes, interfaces, and possible static types that make writing code more reliable and easier to manage. With these features, TypeScript was especially good for big, complicated projects where code maintainability and scale are essential.
TypeScript was created to fill the gap between the freedom of JavaScript and the needs of current, large-scale application development. It does this by offering a more stable, object-oriented experience while keeping JavaScript's benefits.
What’s TypeScript?
TypeScript is often the solution to the question, "what could be better than JavaScript?"
TypeScript is an object-oriented, open-source computer language that was made and managed by Microsoft. It builds on JavaScript by adding possible static typing. It's basically a superset of JavaScript, which means it has all the same features as JavaScript plus some extra ones. When TypeScript code is written, it turns into plain JavaScript. This means that it can be used anywhere JavaScript is supported, on both the client and server sides.
One great thing about TypeScript is that it lets writers write JavaScript code that is clear, short, and reliable. TypeScript makes it easier to code by allowing both dynamic and static typing. It also has inheritance, unions, classes, interfaces, and more features. It works with standard computer elements like functions, variables, lines, and modules.
TypeScript's ability to work with JavaScript tools and frameworks makes it even more helpful. This script works with ECMAScript standards, which means it can be used in Node.js or any browser that supports ECMAScript 3 or higher. TypeScript also has type description files, which are like C++ header files and let other programs use TypeScript's strictly written values.
Third-party TypeScript headers exist for Node.js core modules and tools that are widely used, such as jQuery, D3.js, and MongoDB. Because of this, developers can use the rich environment of JavaScript to make TypeScript apps.
The TypeScript translator is an excellent piece of technology. It takes TypeScript code and turns it into JavaScript. It is licensed under the Apache License 2.0. Adding static typing to JavaScript is its primary goal. This feature dramatically lowers the number of mistakes that happen in dynamic languages.
TypeScript can prevent common problems, like the famed "undefined is not a function" error. It also makes changing code easier and helps you navigate big, complicated codebases. Studies show that TypeScript can catch about 15% of all JavaScript mistakes, making the development environment more reliable.
Even though dynamic typing in JavaScript is flexible, it often causes mistakes that are hard to see and slows down work, especially on big projects. JavaScript can be bad for server-side code in extensive systems if it doesn't have types and error checks at build time. TypeScript fixes these problems, which makes it a useful tool for writers who want to write better and easier-to-manage code.
Why Do We Need to Use TypeScript?
TypeScript is becoming more and more popular among developers for a number of good reasons. TypeScript is easier to use than languages like CoffeeScript or PureScript because it adds directly to JavaScript. You don't have to learn all of these new ideas.
One great thing about TypeScript is that you don't have to use its type system. Types aren't required, but adding them can make code much more reliable by finding mistakes early in development. This makes it possible for writers to start with simple JavaScript files and gradually add TypeScript features as they get better at the language.
Any valid JavaScript file is also a valid TypeScript file. This means that JavaScript projects can be moved to TypeScript in stages. The TypeScript engine will still produce JavaScript code that works even if there are type errors. This way, projects can keep running smoothly while changes are made.
TypeScript gives writers a smooth learning curve and robust tools that help them write better and manage code over time.
Is TypeScript Suitable for Frontend or Backend?
You can use TypeScript for both frontend and server programming because it is a strictly written extension of JavaScript. As it is written in JavaScript, it can be used in any system that accepts JavaScript without problems.
Frontend Development
TypeScript works well in this area because JavaScript is the usual language for front-end programming. It adds type safety to JavaScript, which makes it easier to find mistakes quickly and keep up with big codebases. TypeScript works well with well-known front-end frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue. This lets developers make strong, scalable apps with better developer tools and more clear code.
Backend Development
TypeScript has more perks for server-side development than for front-end development. The extra features it offers, such as automatic type checking and object-oriented programming, make it useful for handling complicated, large-scale business projects. You can use TypeScript with backend tools like Node.js, which takes advantage of JavaScript's asynchronous features to give you a uniform language environment for both the frontend and the backend.
Types of TypeScript
For more expressive language and vital type checking than JavaScript, TypeScript adds several kinds. Let's take a quick look at some basic and advanced TypeScript types:
Basic Types
TypeScript includes several basic types that are foundational to its type system:
- Number: Represents numeric values, similar to JavaScript's number type.
- Array: Allows you to define arrays with elements of a specific type.
- Tuple: A fixed-size array where each element can be of a different type.
- Boolean: Represents true or false values.
- String: Represents text data.
Advanced Types
Any & Unknown
- Any: A type that can stand for any number, so that variable doesn't have to be checked for type. It helps when you need to know what kind of value it is.
- Unknown: As a safer option, unknowns must be checked for type before actions can be taken. It's now stricter and safer than any other.
Void
Represents the absence of a value. Often, the return type of method doesn't give back a value.
Never
It shows a type that doesn't happen. Functions that give mistakes or have loops that never end return. This feature is handy when you think a function will only finish running occasionally.
Intersection & Union Types
- Intersection Types: Let you mix different types into one. This type has all the features of the types that were joined.
- Union Types: Let a variable hold more than one kind of value. The number can be any of several types because it is defined with the | function.
TypeScript is more organized and better to code with than JavaScript, partly due to these types. Reading through the TypeScript instructions is highly recommended to understand these types fully.
Features of TypeScript
Compatibility
The goal of TypeScript is to work well with JavaScript. Merging with current JavaScript codebases lets writers slowly start using its features. The TypeScript code is turned into regular JavaScript to run anywhere that supports JavaScript, like browsers and Node.js. Because of this, TypeScript can efficiently work with JavaScript tools and frameworks, so writers can use TypeScript's benefits without having to replace their old JavaScript infrastructure.
Static Typing
The static typing scheme is one of the most essential parts of TypeScript. With this method, developers can give variables, function arguments, and return values clear types. Static typing helps find types-related mistakes while the code is still being developed. This can stop errors from happening at runtime and improve the code. TypeScript's type system also allows more advanced features like interfaces, enums, and generics. These add more type safety and can be used to make code more reliable and easier to manage.
