JavaScript is a dynamic programming language used for developing web applications, alongside HTML and CSS. TypeScript (TS) is an object-oriented, open-source programming language, strictly syntactical and, as mentioned earlier, a superset of Javascript (JS). It can be termed under functional programming languages too.
Programmers often contemplate between TS and JS when they talk about performance. JS and TS are arguably very similar but differ in properties. TS is a superset of JS and was developed and designed to deal with the complexities where JS is difficult to apply. JS is usually used for simple parts in a web application.
New versions of JS and TS have been entering the market. The developers’ community has been enhancing the features of the two programming languages, making them better for coders everywhere.
TypeScript: Growth
TS came into the picture in 2012 by Microsoft. It can run on any browser that supports and runs ECMAScript 3. Now, TS is supported by all the versions of ECMAScript, including ECMAScript 6. TS was developed when JS got challenging to use for solving certain parts of a program. When dealing with complexities, JS’s syntax and logic could not help web developers eradicate the issues. This was when TS was developed, and now it is used for solving the heavy coding parts.
Precision and accuracy are the aims while developing a code. Without them, a code shall not function. This is where TS comes in and has become the solution to modern web application complications, making it gain traction.
Differences in Performance
- JavaScript is primarily client-side programming, whereas TS is used for client-side and server-side programming. The TS code gets transpiled to JS during the time of compilation.
- Transpiling is interpreting one language and converting/translating it to another specified programming language.
- TypeScript uses the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP), which involves using classes, interfaces, modifiers and more. It is a multiparadigm language. JS does not have class-based object-oriented programming because it is primarily a prototype-based object-oriented programming language.
- Static typing is seen in TS as it demands a variable type be explicitly declared and determined at compile time. This is not available in JS.
- TS does not support abstract classes.
- A TS code needs to be compiled, but this does not happen in the case of a JS code.
- During deployment, TS can find compilation errors, minimizing the errors during run-time. On the other hand, JS can only see the errors during run-time.
TypeScript vs JavaScript: Which one has the edge?
In the case of TS, it has the following in it:
- Auto-completion feature
- Recommending which argument a function receives
- Can tell what type of function returns
- Self-documentation
- Detection of errors
In the case of JS, it has the following in it:
- Dynamic typing
- Utilizes “Just-In-Time” compilation to execute code
- Can detect the name of the browser, type, operating system version, etc
- Async processing is possible
Conclusion: Which one is better?
In conclusion, where there are a robust test workflow and not very complicated parts, one can use JS. On the other hand, when we need better code management and heavy-duty work, we might need TS. JS can be used for small snippets in a program, while TS is used when we need to deal with advanced queries. So, performance-wise, both are equally efficient and necessary. One needs to consider certain aspects while choosing between the two. Anyway, TS can interpret JS and work well as it is the extension of JS, making it efficient to run in a JS environment smoothly.
Happy coding!
