Python vs JavaScript - A Detailed Comparison

About Python and JavaScript

What is Python?

Python is a programming language with a high level of abstraction, an elegant syntax and an interpreter, created in the late 1980s, and released in 1991 by Guido van Rossum. It is widely used for diverse applications ranging from web development to artificial intelligence. One of the main advantages of Python is its readability and simplicity, with a clean and concise syntax that is easy to understand and beginner-friendly.

Python is an interpreted language, which means that it can be executed directly without being compiled, resulting in faster coding and testing processes. It also comes with a standard library of modules that handle various tasks such as file input/output, networking and regular expressions.

Its extensive ecosystem of third-party libraries and frameworks like Django, Flask, NumPy, Pandas, and TensorFlow, provide additional functionality and simplify the development of complex applications. The active community of Python Developers provides a wealth of resources, including libraries, frameworks and tools.

What is JavaScript?

We generally use HTML to structure the webpage and CSS to add styling to it but that is only the static web page where users can't interact. That is where JavaScript language comes into play.

JavaScript is a lightweight programming language that is cross-platform, interpreted, and object-oriented. Developers use JavaScript to design interactive and dynamic web pages. JavaScript supports both client-side and server-side programming. JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages because it is highly versatile. It allows us to control multimedia, animate pictures, and do a variety of other things.

There are two methods for adding JavaScript code into an HTML web page: internally and externally. In the Internal  JavaScript method, <script> tag is used within the body of HTML to add all the JavaScript code. External JavaScript, on the other hand, requires storing the code in a separate .js file and then retrieving it within the HTML page. While working on large projects, developers frequently use this technique to keep the code structure organized.

Key Features

Python - Key Features

There are so many features that make Python one of the most versatile programming languages, that it has use cases in various domains and many companies look to hire Python developers. Some of the most important features are mentioned below: 

Interpreted language: Python is an interpreted programming language, meaning that it can be executed without the need for prior compilation. As a result, this approach results in quicker development because developers can rapidly view the output of their code.

Large standard library: Python is packaged with a comprehensive standard library that features modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and regular expressions. This simplifies the development process for developers and curbs the necessity for them to write code for everything.

Simple Syntax: Python's syntax is quite straightforward and uncomplicated, making it an excellent choice for beginners who are just starting programming. The language is simple to understand and read, and it ensures fewer lines of code than other programming languages.

Extensive third-party libraries: Python has a huge number of third-party libraries and frameworks that provide support for various tasks. They ease the development process and ensure code reusability. Some of the well-known ones are Flask, Django, Pandas, NumPy, and TensorFlow.

Dynamically Typed: Python is a dynamically typed programming language, meaning that the data type of a variable is determined at runtime. A variable can be modified to hold a different data type value at any point in the code's execution.

Object-Oriented Programming: Python supports Object-Oriented Programming, which means that it supports object-oriented concepts such as encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance. This makes it easier for developers to write complex programs and maintain code.

JavaScript - Key Features

Cross-platform: JavaScript language is supported by various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is built into Netscape 2.0 and greater, and runs on all platforms which support Netscape.

Light-weight: Since JavaScript is not a compiled language, there is no prior byte-code conversion. However, it does adhere to a model known as Just-In-Time (JIT) Compilation. Hence, just before it executes, it is transformed to bytecode. Because of this, JS is a lightweight programming language. JavaScript can be executed on even less powerful machines.

Interpreted: As discussed above, JavaScript is not a compiled language but it's rather an interpreted language just like Python and Ruby. The source code of JavaScript is interpreted by the browser, line by line and is then executed.

Browser support: JavaScript is supported by almost every web browser including Chrome, Firefox, Safari etc.

Case sensitive: JavaScript is a case-sensitive language where all variables, function names and other identifiers must follow consistent capitalisation of letters.

Object oriented: JavaScript is a prototype based Object Oriented programming language. Data types like Arrays, Functions, etc. inherit properties of the object prototype.

Scripting language: JavaScript is a lightweight scripting language designed for client-side processing on the browser. It manages the web pages displayed to the user and its associated processing, such as cookies, sessions, and local storage, on the client's machine (browser).

Dynamically typed: Type checks (whether string or number) take place during run-time which makes JavaScript dynamically typed language. In JS, we don't need to clearly state upfront what kind of data will be kept in a variable. For instance, when we define var "num", "num" can now hold a string or an integer.

Performance Comparison

Python Performance

Python is a high-level programming language that is widely recognized for its versatility and ease of use. But, concerns have been raised regarding its performance compared to other languages like C and Java.

In the past, Python has been criticized for being slower than other languages due to its interpreted nature, garbage collection, and dynamic typing. However, over the years, there have been significant enhancements to the performance of Python, especially with the release of Python 3.

One of the significant advancements that have helped improve Python's performance is the Just-In-Time (JIT) compilers. These compilers can compile Python code into machine code at runtime, improving the execution speed significantly. Moreover, Python has various tools and libraries, including NumPy and Cython, that have helped enhance its performance. NumPy provides optimized array operations, while Cython allows Python code to be compiled to C code for faster execution.

In recent years, Python has been used in several performance-critical applications, like Machine Learning, Scientific Computing, and Data Processing. It may not be as fast as C or Java, but Python's ease of use and flexibility make it a popular choice among developers, and its performance has substantially improved over time.

JavaScript Performance

JavaScript is a widely used programming language for creating web applications and interactive experiences and many firms look to hire JavaScript developers. Its performance has improved considerably over the years, thanks to enhancements in web browser speed, hardware, and JavaScript language features. The faster and more efficient web browsers have allowed JavaScript to perform better, which means developers can now build more complex and interactive applications that run more smoothly and respond more quickly.

Modern JavaScript engines, like V8 and SpiderMonkey, can compile and execute code at incredibly fast speeds. This makes it easier for developers to create highly responsive applications that users can enjoy without delays or lags.

Another critical factor that affects JavaScript performance is the smoothness of the user interface. To achieve this, developers need to minimize the time taken for JavaScript to render and update the user interface, as well as optimize the use of memory and other system resources. Techniques like lazy loading, code splitting, and caching can help to reduce the amount of JavaScript that needs to be loaded and executed by the browser, ensuring a smoother and more responsive user experience.

JavaScript's performance has significantly improved and is expected to continue doing so as web technologies and hardware advance further in the future.

Popularity over the years

Python

Python has been growing rapidly in popularity over the past decade. According to the annual Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Python has been one of the fastest-growing programming languages in terms of popularity since 2012.

In the TIOBE Index, which measures the popularity of programming languages based on search engine data, Python has steadily risen in the rankings over the years. As of March 2023, Python is ranked as the most popular programming language, ahead of Java and C.

Overall, Python's popularity is expected to continue growing in the coming years, with its ease of use, versatility, and a large community of developers and users contributing to its success.

JavaScript

Over 1.8 billion websites exist worldwide, and 95% of them use JavaScript. According to Github's 2020 Octoverse Report, JavaScript is by far the most popular language.

The basis for JavaScript's success is its origin tale. Its original name was Mocha, followed by LiveScript and then Javascript. The story starts in December of 1995 at the Netscape headquarters, where Brendan Eich participates in a ten-day coding sprint and comes out with a new language. Because of a license deal between Netscape and Sun (the company that owned Java), the language was renamed to Javascript and particularly "Java" script because Java was the most popular language at that time and this would help in Javascript's marketing.

While JavaScript has earned the title of "The Language of the Browser," its destiny changed in 2009 with the introduction of Node.JS, a runtime environment that allows JavaScript code to be executed outside of a web browser. Because Node.JS represents the idea of "JavaScript everywhere" paradigm, JavaScript's popularity has consequently increased.

Due to JavaScript's popularity, a number of libraries and frameworks have been developed, which have improved the effectiveness and efficiency of application development. React JS, jQuery, D3.JS, and other libraries are now used in the majority of apps all over the globe. Large apps can be built with the optimal performance of frameworks like Angular, Ember JS, and Vue JS. According to Stackoverflow, JavaScript has one of the largest communities amongst the programming languages.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of Python

Large community and resources: One of the biggest advantages of Python is its large and supportive community. Python has a large user base, and there are numerous online resources available that provide support, documentation, and help to users. 

Easy to learn: Python's syntax is easy to understand and learn, even for individuals who have no prior programming experience. Its straightforward and clean syntax reduces the need for complex coding structures and makes code more readable.

Versatile: Python is a versatile language that can be used for a wide variety of tasks. It can be used for web development, data analysis,  machine learning, game development, and much more.

Dynamically-typed language: Python is a dynamically-typed language, which means that variables do not have to be declared with specific data types. This feature makes Python code more flexible and easier to write.

Extensive libraries and frameworks: Python has a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that can be used to build software solutions quickly and efficiently. These libraries and frameworks cover a wide range of functionalities, including web development, data science, machine learning, and more.

Disadvantages of Python

Slow: Python is an interpreted language, which means it can be slower than compiled languages like C++ and Java, especially when dealing with CPU-intensive tasks.

Global Interpreter Lock: Python's Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) restricts multi-threading, which can limit its ability to efficiently utilize multi-core processors.

Weak in mobile computing: Python is not widely used in mobile app development due to its high memory consumption and slower performance compared to native languages like Swift and Kotlin.

Design restrictions: Python's dynamic nature can make it harder to catch errors at compile time.

Advantages of JavaScript

Less server load: JavaScript runs on the client-side and hence, the requests sent to the server get reduced. User input is validated before the request is sent to the server and hence, it saves server traffic which reduces the load on the server.

Rich interface: JavaScript's rich interface capabilities allow for dynamic and interactive web pages, with features such as animations, user input validation, and real-time updates without requiring a page refresh. This makes for a more engaging and seamless user experience on the web.

Increased interactivity: By allowing developers to manipulate HTML and CSS elements in real-time, JS can enhance the user experience by providing increased interactivity, dynamic content updates, and seamless page transitions.

Speed: JS runs on the client side without the need for outside resources and third party apps which makes it a very fast language.

Versatility: JavaScript is a highly versatile programming language that can be used for both front-end and back-end development, as well as for building mobile and desktop applications. Its flexibility and vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks make it a popular choice for developers across various domains.

Updates: In order to maintain JavaScript's relevance within the industry, the development team and ECMA International regularly update and build new frameworks and libraries.

Disadvantages of JavaScript

Browser compatibility: JavaScript can behave differently in different browsers resulting in different outputs, which can cause compatibility issues.

Multi-threading or Multiprocessing: JS doesn't support multi-threading or multi-processing.

Debugging: Debugging JavaScript can be challenging due to its loose typing and dynamic nature, making it more prone to errors.

Client-side security: JavaScript is executed on the client-side, which means that it can be exploited by attackers to carry out malicious activities.

Use Cases

Python - Use Cases

There are so many features that make Python one of the most versatile programming languages, that it has use cases in various domains and many companies look to hire Python developers. Some of the most important features are mentioned below: 

Interpreted language: Python is an interpreted programming language, meaning that it can be executed without the need for prior compilation. As a result, this approach results in quicker development because developers can rapidly view the output of their code.

Large standard library: Python is packaged with a comprehensive standard library that features modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and regular expressions. This simplifies the development process for developers and curbs the necessity for them to write code for everything.

Simple Syntax: Python's syntax is quite straightforward and uncomplicated, making it an excellent choice for beginners who are just starting programming. The language is simple to understand and read, and it ensures fewer lines of code than other programming languages.

Extensive third-party libraries: Python has a huge number of third-party libraries and frameworks that provide support for various tasks. They ease the development process and ensure code reusability. Some of the well-known ones are Flask, Django, Pandas, NumPy, and TensorFlow.

Dynamically Typed: Python is a dynamically typed programming language, meaning that the data type of a variable is determined at runtime. A variable can be modified to hold a different data type value at any point in the code's execution.

Object-Oriented Programming: Python supports Object-Oriented Programming, which means that it supports object-oriented concepts such as encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance. This makes it easier for developers to write complex programs and maintain code.

JavaScript - Use Cases

Cross-platform: JavaScript language is supported by various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is built into Netscape 2.0 and greater, and runs on all platforms which support Netscape.

Light-weight: Since JavaScript is not a compiled language, there is no prior byte-code conversion. However, it does adhere to a model known as Just-In-Time (JIT) Compilation. Hence, just before it executes, it is transformed to bytecode. Because of this, JS is a lightweight programming language. JavaScript can be executed on even less powerful machines.

Interpreted: As discussed above, JavaScript is not a compiled language but it's rather an interpreted language just like Python and Ruby. The source code of JavaScript is interpreted by the browser, line by line and is then executed.

Browser support: JavaScript is supported by almost every web browser including Chrome, Firefox, Safari etc.

Case sensitive: JavaScript is a case-sensitive language where all variables, function names and other identifiers must follow consistent capitalisation of letters.

Object oriented: JavaScript is a prototype based Object Oriented programming language. Data types like Arrays, Functions, etc. inherit properties of the object prototype.

Scripting language: JavaScript is a lightweight scripting language designed for client-side processing on the browser. It manages the web pages displayed to the user and its associated processing, such as cookies, sessions, and local storage, on the client's machine (browser).

Dynamically typed: Type checks (whether string or number) take place during run-time which makes JavaScript dynamically typed language. In JS, we don't need to clearly state upfront what kind of data will be kept in a variable. For instance, when we define var "num", "num" can now hold a string or an integer.

Which is better - Python or JavaScript

Python and JS are two very different programming languages that have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Python is an all-purpose language that can be used for a wide range of applications, while JavaScript is primarily used for web development.

Despite their differences, Python and JS can work together in a complementary manner. Python can be used to build the back-end of a web application, while JavaScript can be used for the front-end. Many popular web frameworks, such as Django and Flask, use Python for the server-side logic and JavaScript for the client-side interactivity.

In the end, the choice between Python and JavaScript ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Both languages have their place in the programming world and can be used independently or in conjunction with each other to create powerful, innovative applications.