Should I learn Python or JavaScript for Web Development?
Learning about the best programming language for web development is what every potential web developer should be doing. Python, Java, Ruby, C, Swift, JavaScript, and PHP are examples of programming languages you should be learning. But for web development languages, Python and JavaScript are your best bet.
But which of these languages should be exclusively for web development? In this article, you will learn about Python and JavaScript to identify which is ideal for web development.
Python vs. Javascript for Web Development: Overview
Python vs. JavaScript is a popular term you are likely to hear among developers new to web development. These computer programming languages have similar and varying features that make them useful for Web development projects. This is why so many companies use them while creating their websites.
But in regards to Python vs. Javascript for Web development, you can utilize either as both are versatile, functional, object-oriented, and interpretive.
But one thing you must not overlook is that the founders of these languages had a purpose for designing each language. So in the context of this article, which is about the best language to learn for web development, we will explain each in detail.
You will learn more about Python vs. JavaScript in this article, including their features, key distinctions, and advantages for Web development.
Python vs. Javascript: Understanding the Two Popular Programming Languages for Web Development
Python
A Dutchman by the name of Guido van Rossum invented the computer language Python in the 1980s. Python is a high-level, less verbose language that is great for novices since they can use it for scripting, web scraping, and building data sets.
Python’s syntax simplicity is significant to newcomers. Every aspect of software development, including machine learning and data science, can be done with Python. You can use it for text editing, website development, video game development, and artificial intelligence.
Python is the best programming language for building websites because it enables database communication and the sending and receiving of web requests. Some of the most popular websites use it because of this. These include the NASA website, YouTube, Google search, Dropbox, Yahoo Maps, Pinterest, Instagram, and Quora. Since Python is a general-purpose language, learning it will help you develop other applications besides websites.
Among developers, Python is the second-most popular programming language.
Javascript
In 1995, another well-known programming language, JavaScript, was created by Brendan Eich, a developer at Netscape. For beginners who wish to work as front-end or back-end developers, it’s a fantastic alternative. With the aid of this language, you can build websites right away, which is a valuable skill in the job market nowadays!
The most common host environments in which JavaScript can be used as a programming language are browsers. You can use JavaScript to build both the front and back end of your website since it is a dynamic, multi-paradigm language with standardized built-in objects and functions.
JavaScript has been the most popular programming language for the last nine years.
Python vs. Javascript for Web Development: Features
- Language Simplicity
Beginners are frequently curious about the ease of learning Python vs. JavaScript. Each language is fundamental in its own way. But Python is frequently the preferred language for beginners, particularly those without prior programming experience. Furthermore, according to experts, Python is said to be more readable and easier to understand.
In comparison to other languages like C or C++, Python has fewer structural rules. Other languages have some mandatory rules that Python does not have; using a semicolon after each statement is an example of this assertion.
Although JavaScript is the most widely used language, learning can be challenging. There are numerous additional symbols, including semicolons and curly brackets.
Consequently, if you are learning a programming language for the first time and have no prior expertise with coding, Python performs significantly better than JavaScript in this regard. It uses simple variables and functions, which makes it easier for beginners to understand the language and start developing with it sooner.
- Versatility
While Python and JavaScript are both good web development, applications, and games, Python is used more in some strategic fields. Python is best at data analytics, AI(Artificial Intelligence)implementation, ML(Machine Learning), and in areas like Finance/Fintech.
Server applications, Web applications, games, and mobile applications benefit most from JavaScript. JavaScript additionally offers the benefit of being a front-end and back-end language. It has a significant advantage over Python in that it is not only a front-end language but also works incredibly well with the creation of the server-side logic of the application.
The server side is where Python ranks as a top back-end language.
- Performance
How fast a bunch of code runs determines how quickly the web application loads. JavaScript is preferable to Python since it can handle several requests simultaneously, while Python can only process requests in a single flow. This is the justification for why many applications, like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and others, employ JavaScript.
For some reason, JavaScript continues to perform better. It uses one of the fastest engines available, the V8 from Chrome. Node.js is the language of choice for creating real-time applications due to its built-in speed.
JavaScript is the undisputed winner when comparing Python and JavaScript in terms of performance. Python-based software will take longer to respond to, which keeps users waiting.
- Inheritance
JavaScript and Python support inheritance but use different mediums. Python utilizes a class-based inheritance paradigm, whereas JavaScript uses a prototype-based inheritance model.
Another difference between Python and JavaScript is that Python lacks a mechanism for inheriting from instances, but JS does.
- Mutability
Python and JavaScript are both mutable and immutable languages. In JavaScript, only objects and arrays are changeable, whereas, in Python, mutability refers to the ability to change an object.
The values of mutable objects are changeable after you assign value to them. But immutable objects can’t change their values. Objects, arrays, and sets are examples of mutable elements in Javascript, whereas numbers, texts, and boolean values are examples of Python.
- Procedural Programming
Both Python and JavaScript use a multi-paradigm approach, which means they enable multiple paradigms of programming. Both provide functional, imperative, and object-oriented programming paradigms.
- Application Development
Building a website or native application is made easy with JavaScript. It allows you to build mobile and web applications.
On the other hand, you cannot build mobile applications with Python since it does not have built-in mobile development capabilities. But you can develop mobile apps with packages like Kivy, PyQt, or even Beeware’s Toga library.
Python is appropriate for the back-end and other activities, including data analysis, machine learning, and operations that need a lot of math.
- Scalability
If you compare Python vs. JavaScript, scalability and multithreading are significant factors. This is because multithreading is an advantageous way to facilitate scaling.
Since Python only supports single-threaded systems and does not support multithreading, Node.js exclusively supports asynchronous programming. JavaScript is hence beneficial for web application scalability.
On the other hand, Python excels with rich built-in data structures, dynamic binding, and dynamic typing. You can use Python as a scripting language that integrates the existing components and helps us build scalable applications.
- Popularity
Approximately 69.7% of the development community is said to use JavaScript, making it more popular than other web development languages. Comparatively, 41.7% of developers said they were most comfortable using Python.
Additionally, JavaScript is your best bet for creating mobile apps. It ensures web developers gain access to other employment opportunities. As a result, developers frequently choose it.
Python vs. JavaScript for Web Development: Pros and Cons
Pros of JavaScript
- An open-source project called JavaScript has a unique tool for short scripts.
- It has a robust testing workflow and is a cross-platform language.
- It offers additional dependencies, is simple to learn, and is easy to start coding.
- It works in any browser and supports a variety of sophisticated classes, interfaces, and modules.
- Enables cross-compilation and supports server- and client-side usage.
- A sizable community actively supports JavaScript and gives website visitors prompt feedback.
- JavaScript can be extended to create extensive programs or to store and retrieve data on the user’s machine.
Pros of Python
- Because Python runs on a variety of hardware platforms, it is easy to understand, use, and maintain. It provides interactive testing, debugging, high-level dynamic data types, and dynamic type verification.
- You can easily integrate Python with Java, C, and C++ programming languages, and it has the exemplary hierarchy and support for vast programs.
- Python is a powerful object-oriented programming language with a beautiful syntax that makes it simple to read the programs you write.
- Python operates on various devices and operating systems and comes with a sizable standard library, supporting many basic programming tasks.
- Python has an extensive library and practical tools for developers, making writing and debugging programs simple. Additionally, it provides users with an interactive shell that enables the testing of ideas before their actual implementation.
Cons of JavaScript
- JavaScript lacks multiprocessor multithreading capabilities.
- The reading and writing of files in JavaScript are impossible on the client side.
Cons of Python
- It performs poorly on mobile devices and exhibits more run-time problems.
- Due to its restrictions on database access, Python is not a viable fit for activities that require a lot of memory.
- Python programmers find it challenging to use other languages because Python’s syntax differs from those of different programming languages.
Python vs. JavaScript for Web Development: When Should I Use One of These Languages?
Since web development is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing fields of IT, everyone wants to become a web developer. To achieve this, many of these developers frequently use Python or JavaScript.
Even though there has been much discussion in the developer community about the differences between Python and JavaScript for a long time, they are popular choices among developers. Choosing between the two involves more than just determining which language is more successful commercially. Your purpose and the best language for that reason are the main factors.
Consider HTML, CSS, and JavaScript your first three options for developing websites. Also, with well-known frameworks like React.Js and so on, Javascript will ensure you construct reliable online applications and web pages.
Python should be studied by those who want to learn machine learning, data science, and neural networks.
If the required application needs to be very effective and scalable, JavaScript is the ideal choice. Because of this, JavaScript is perfect for building websites that function effectively. However, Python is best if you want a simple web development process, and the website’s back-end needs to be reasonably readable.
Positions for junior front-end developers and senior roles for architects and full-stack engineers are available in the JavaScript fields. Also, Python job offers range from entry-level ones in software engineering to more in machine learning and data science.
Can JavaScript and Python Coexist in a Web Development Project?
Yes, Python and JavaScript can work together to create a web application. You can use Python for the back-end, while HTML, Javascript, and CSS are best for front-end development.
Learning JavaScript introduces you to NodeJS, a server-side framework engine based on JavaScript. With this knowledge, you can write both the front-end and back-end of your website using JavaScript, making you a full-stack developer.
Conclusion
JavaScript allows you to do almost anything Python will enable you to do. And this is possible with the numerous libraries and extensions that both offer. Although there are many job opportunities if you know these languages, Python has a larger market reach and is easier to understand. However, due to its simple syntax, Python is best for beginners over JavaScript in this comparison.
But after mastering the fundamentals of HTML and CSS, you’ll need to study JavaScript if you want to work as a professional web developer. JavaScript is, therefore, the best computer programming language for building websites.
FAQs
Is JavaScript Easy to Learn?
Yes, JavaScript is basic and easy to learn, but you’ll need to learn it from a credible source. Because it is an interpreted language, you can easily integrate it with other languages like HTML. It is also among the easiest programming languages to learn.
Is Python Faster Than JavaScript?
Despite what some people believe, Python is not quicker than JavaScript. Unlike Node.js, which supports extensive multithreading, Python only handles requests in a single flow, which makes it slower. Because Nodejs is built on Chrome’s V8, a lightning-fast and potent engine, it is substantially faster than Python when written in Javascript.
Is JavaScript Better for Web Development?
Yes, JavaScript is an outstanding programming language for creating websites. And the reason for this is that JS functions within the browser.
