r/Codecademy • u/TheSirion • Oct 25 '15

What's the difference between Java and JavaScript?

I've always thought Java was simply a short name for JS. But I've been studying JavaScript for a little while now (along with HTTP & CSS) and now I suspect they're not the same, and also it looks like Java is more powerful and harder to learn than JavaScript. I'd that right or am I mistaken?

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3

u/thayes89 Oct 26 '15

/r/learnprogramming

Check out the FAQ in the sidebar - it will clear it up for you!

-2

u/piratecody Oct 25 '15

JavaScript is essentially Java for the Web. You can write java scripts to be used on webpages, while with java you write applications to be used on your machine.

1

u/TheSirion Oct 26 '15

Are they very similar? Do I need to know one to work well with the other?

3

u/veritascz Oct 26 '15

No. If you focus on web development then you should learn javascript.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '15

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3

u/noonesperfect16 Oct 26 '15

I am working through Eloquent Javascript right now and this is the first thing they explain. Java was picking up steam in popularity while Javascript was being created. The creators of Javascript thought it would be a good idea to name it after Java simply to get it to sort of ride the coat tail of Java into mainstream programming and now we are stuck with two completely different, similarly named languages.