Choosing Between TypeScript and JavaScript

As a developer we already expect you to be aware of TypeScript and JavaScript and the feasibility they can provide in the long run. JavaScript has been around for ages and is trusted by plenty of software developers and programmers. The language is popular and can meet the scripting needs of most developers.

However, as is the case with almost everything in the world of programming and scripting, every existing technology is met with new innovation or technology that can provide an alternative or a new solution to users. For JavaScript this innovation was met through the introduction of TypeScript.

TypeScript is an open-source programming solution to develop large-scale operations and applications and was first introduced to the market in 2012 by the tech giant Microsoft. In this article, we will compare both programming languages – TypeScript and JavaScript. We will study the similarities they carry along with the differences and pros and cons.

What’s TypeScript?

TypeScript is a popular programming language that was first developed by Microsoft in 2012. TypeScript is fairly new to the market, especially if we compare it to JavaScript.

TypeScript can be described as a statically combined programming language in a nutshell. The language works well for writing concise JavaScript code in a comprehensible form. TypeScript fulfills the same objective as JavaScript and is used for both server-side and client-side applications. Libraries currently situated within JavaScript are also used with TypeScript.

As a programming language, TypeScript is used to support both static and dynamic typing. The features make it stand out. The features of TypeScript include:

• Compatibility: TypeScript is extremely compatible in nature and can be used for plenty of new and old steps and features. The languages compatible with almost all versions of JavaScript include the ES12 and the ES7. This compatibility makes it stand out, as everyone can understand the true features that one can expect from TypeScript. If you are looking to shift to TypeScript, you can rest assured knowing that the transition will be smooth.
• Static Typing; As we have mentioned above as well, TypeScript comes with static typing, which is a good feature to have for a language of this pedigree. Static typing can help improve the results generated from the language and can give you different types of coding. Static typing can also help with the early detection of bugs, faster completion of code and a lot more.

Some of the other prominent features hosted within the programming language include:

• The language is extremely easy to maintain and can boost the overall productivity of your operations.
• TypeScript provides detailed support when it comes to using annotations and static typings.
• The language helps support object-oriented features such as inheritance, interfaces and different classes.
• Debugging is fairly simple within the language, and all programming errors are detected and found out at a nascent stage.
• The language supports ES6, which can prove to be fairly simple for handling inheritance and objects. The full-featured IDE support can go a long way toward creating a seamless environment.

Since TypeScript is similar to JavaScript in nature, it is suitable for both backend and frontend work. The suitability ensures that you can use the application for full-stack development of both front-end and back-end resources. TypeScript can work well on large-scale projects and can help solve complicated problems that require expert handling.

What’s JavaScript

JavaScript is a scripting programming language that has been around for ages. The scripting language is used for plenty of tasks including the development of interactive web pages. JavaScript adheres to client-side programming rules and can execute seamless codes within the web browser. However, the nature of code involved in JavaScript gives you the leverage to use it with other technologies such as REST APIs and XML.

Since the primary motive behind the formation of JavaScript was to use it as a complementary language, it is not fit to write extensive code for large applications. You can, however, use JavaScript seamlessly to write code for a small app.

Some of the unique features offered by JavaScript include:

• The application is flexible in nature and can be used for cross-platform development.
• The app design is lightweight and not complicated at all.
• Weakly typed.
• All browsers can support the language.

Differences between TypeScript and JavaScript

There are multiple differences between JavaScript and TypeScript that can help you understand the role of both languages.

Learning Curve

TypeScript is an advanced version of JavaScript, which is why you should know JavaScript to be able to write code on TypeScript. TypeScript can hence be described as a superset of JS.

Understanding JS is easy for anyone with some experience in background JavaScript. JavaScript is also popularly used with HTML and CSS to create popular web applications. HTML, within JavaScript, can be tough as it requires animations, scripting and event handling.

Community

TypeScript is fairly new to the market, but it has developed quite a community of users around the globe. TypeScript has plenty of forums where tutorials and guides are available. JavaScript doesn’t have as large a community as TypeScript; however, it can be trusted when it comes to the development of libraries and frameworks.

Performance

TypeScript was created with the primary purpose of solving performance issues present within JavaScript. The scripting language provides great speeds and solutions for large apps. Most developers find the application efficient in nature.

TypeScript is a subset of JavaScript and is an advancement of the latter. While there is no clear winner, we recommend you use TypeScript if you are developing large applications.