Computers speak their own languages. While you might know that a computer processes information in a series of 0s and 1s that the human mind simply can't keep up with, you might be surprised that binary is not the only language computers speak. There are actually a dozen or so popular languages that can be used to communicate with computers that are independent of the user's own native language. We're talking about computer programming languages, and that means we need to go over the distinctions of C# vs JavaScript.
And, there are distinctions between these two computer programming languages. Any learned programmer knows that not all coding languages are created equally or can even be used for the same purpose. When we talk about C# vs JavaScript, the differences between these two computer languages are vast. However, these two programming languages do have a few places where they overlap.
Curious? Let's break it down.
C# and JavaScript | The History
Most computer history can be traced back to giants like Alan Turing and Bill Gates. These are the names that altered the course of human history and helped usher us into the modern era. We owe a lot of our modern comforts to technological advancements, perhaps most importantly, computers. But, it's easy to overlook how complex a computer is when programmers go through so much effort to make our computers user-friendly. This is where the history of C# and JavaScript begin.
C#: The Microsoft Language
C# was developed by Microsoft as its primary computer coding language. The first versions of C# were kind of artless and were meant to complete blunt commands with a task-oriented approach. Tell the computer a simple command, and the computer would complete the task. This is more or less the most basic function of any coding language. C# sets itself apart by being exclusive to Microsoft software or other Microsoft-based products.
To be clear, C# was the proposed alternative to JavaScript that could be used exclusively for Microsoft software. As C# is the coding language of the most popular software on the planet, the language has gone through many versions and updates. C# is considered to be a general-use coding language that can be used for multiple purposes. Even today's sleek, updated versions of C# are oriented around components, objects, and tasks. That said, most programmers enjoy using C# because of its simplicity.
JavaScript: The Java Language
JavaScript was developed a few years before C# in an attempt to make this the coding language that would be the companion to Java applications. Eventually, JavaScript and Java applications were both plugged into Web applications and are now involved in running some of the supporting applications to Web browsing. Interestingly, JavaScript was always intended to be a Web companion, even when the Web consisted mostly of dial-up and very limited browsing back in the mid-1990s. Today, JavaScript is used to build websites and help run larger platforms, like Netflix and Hulu.
That said, most programmers view JavaScript with some amount of dread. While the coding language itself is sophisticated, it is also very nuanced and not as widely used as C# or even C++. JavaScript is not as useful as developers might have imagined it to be. However, for Web-based projects, the chances are that JavaScript will be the coding language that needs to be used, so most programmers know this language by rote.
Do C# and JavaScript Overlap?
There are times when C# and JavaScript do overlap and not just in the sense that both might have to be used for the same client or project. To be honest, there are very few computers that don't have Java applications installed as a base program to support Web browsing, including Microsoft computers, ironically enough. JavaScript can and does run simultaneously with C#, both in terms of application and in terms of coding.
However, because C# is a coding language used on the server side and JavaScript is a coding language that is used on the client side, there are more differences than similarities between these two languages. Even on the rare occasion when JavaScript is being used outside of building Web platforms, it isn't likely that this code will do anything other than run as support for C#. However, to be fair, if your operating system software isn't Microsoft, the chances of using C# are very slim since Apple and Lynx use different programming languages.
Overall, there isn't a whole lot of overlap with C# vs JavaScript. But, there are a lot of distinctions.
C# vs JavaScript | The Distinctions
Some might consider C# vs JavaScript to be as different as night and day. But, the simple truth of that matter is that both of these coding languages are different sides of the same coin. While both languages were developed within the same time period, the fact of the matter is that C# vs JavaScript have huge distinctions that constantly pit them as competitors. Let's go over the main distinctions.
Type of Language
Simplicity
Error Detection
Compilation
Maintenance
Productivity
Platforms
Consistency and Flexibility
Syntax
Conclusion
Without a doubt, discussing C# vs JavaScript is interesting for anyone curious about computer coding languages. While both C# and JavaScript were developed around the same time, they each were developed with a specific purpose. JavaScript was intended to support the Web and C# was intended to support Microsoft.
In terms of distinctions, C# and JavaScript seem to each have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, JavaScript can be used across many internet-based platforms and is most often used in building Web pages or supporting internet browsers.
Meanwhile, C# is generally considered to be the overall superior program because it is easier to use, more reliable, more productive, and more consistent, even if the language is exclusive to Microsoft. When deciding which programming language to use, consider the distinction of each language and the task that needs to be completed. Internet-based projects will need JavaScript, while software-based projects will need C#.