We think of JavaScript when designing a dynamic and interactive website and Node Js for backend development. Since JavaScript is great for front-end development, many people are curious about its capabilities on the server side.

However, it’s good to note that JavaScript and Node Js differ. While Javascript is a front-end language, Node Js is a runtime environment that allows JavaScript to run on the server side. 

In this article, we uncover the fundamental differences between JavaScript and Node Js to help you determine how you can utilize them to code faster. 

TL;DR – Node Js vs JavaScript 

It’s good to note that Node Js is not an alternative to Javascript, and you can’t use it to build front-end applications. However, Node Js can help you run Javascript outside your browser. This means it’s cross-platform, and you can build mobile apps, websites, and computer applications that rely on the same database as Node Js. 

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a lightweight development language that creates dynamic HTML webpages containing interactive effects. It was first introduced in 1995 as a client-side object-oriented programming language for client-side web development. 

Because it’s a client-side language, JavaScript does not require downloading and running source code on the server. All browsers, i.e. Mozilla, Chrome, Safari, and even IE/Edge, provide a runtime environment for JavaScript. Chrome’s V8 Engine and Mozilla’s SpiderMonkey Engine are just two examples.

This allows programmers to start coding immediately without installing any applications. However, the downside is that it cannot run outside a browser — like on a server. 

What is Node Js?

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows it to run JS on the server side. It is a cross-platform runtime, first introduced in 2009 to run on Google’s v8 engine and be executed outside the browser.

It’s an environment or interpreter that can run any JavaScript program. It enables you to carry out server-side functions such as creating a database, fetching data from the server, and storing user data. 

Node Js has many modules, but it’s not a programming language but an environment that works with JavaScript to allow developers to write simple, scalable code easily. It offers many related libraries commonly used as a general-purpose programming language in JavaScript.

What Is the Main Difference Between Javascript and Node JS?

Here’s a table comparing Javascript and Node Js

JavaScript

Node.js

How it works

We primarily use JS to create scripts that make web pages dynamic and more interactive.

Helps us run JavaScript scripts in the server-side environments

When to use it?

Used exclusively within browsers

Permits running JavaScript outside browser environments.

Why use

While the burden is being distributed, you can develop an application and execute numerous threads.

It employs two sorts of threads: the main thread, which is handled by the event loop, and multiple other threads.

Popularity

Front-end Development

Front-end Development

Learning curve

Steep

Shallow with an understanding of JavaScript

Example app

Hibernate, Struts, Spring, Tapestry, JSF, etc.

Partial.js, Socket.io, Sails.js, Express.js, etc.

License

Java virtual machine

V8 engine from Google

Current Version

The latest Javascript version is ES2015

Node Js current version is v16.9.0

What is Node Js? 

Here are some FAQs about Node JS

Is Node Js a Programming Language?

Node.js is developed in JavaScript, C, and C++. It is described as “a bundled compilation of a libuv platform abstraction layer, Google’s V8 JavaScript engine, and a basic library mostly written in JavaScript.

Node.js cannot be defined as a programming language. Rather, it is a runtime environment that allows JavaScript to be executed outside the browser on a server. It’s also not a framework. The runtime environment is constructed on top of JavaScript and aids in the execution of frameworks. Therefore, Node.js is not a programming language or a framework; it is an ecosystem for them. 

Is Node JS Backend? 

One prevalent misperception among developers is that Node.js is exclusively used for backend frameworks and server-side applications. This is incorrect: Node.js can be used on both the front and backend.

The event-driven, asynchronous nature of Node.js frameworks makes them a popular choice for developers designing a flexible and scalable backend. Frontend developers, on the other hand, will see the rewards of Node.js in their workflows just as vividly. You can build REST API applications that can be used in both the front-end and back-end. 

How Does Node Js Work?

Here’s how Node Js works:Node.js receives the request from the client side and sends the response.

• Single threads handle the requests to perform I/O operations or requests
• A thread is a sequence of commands that the server must execute. It works in tandem with the server to serve numerous clients simultaneously.
• Node.js is a single-threaded event loop programming language, therefore, It handles multiple requests concurrently on a single thread while not blocking it for a single request. 

When To Use Node Js?

It is undeniable that Node.js has practically established the groundwork for the real-time web. Online apps with real-time, two-way communication have transformed the traditional web response paradigm. However, JavaScript is not best for creating applications that require heavy calculations. It’s best to retrieve data from databases and return values, files, and data to the user. 

Why Use Node Js? 

Common reasons why people use Node Js include: 

• A CPU-Heavy Application usage: Implementing Node.js Is Generally a Bad Idea in this case since Node.js uses an event-based, non-blocking I/O architecture on a single CPU. Thus all extra heavy Multiprocessor action will effectively block any user request.
• Node.js is redundant in a simple CRUD (or HTML) application when data is delivered directly by the server, and there is no need for a separate API.
• A Server-Side Relational Database App, since its relational data tools aren’t as dependable, or robust and easy to work with as other runtime toolboxes 

Is Node Js Popular?

Node.js has been downloaded over a billion times globally because it is easy to learn and scale your Node.js knowledge. It is fast, cross-platform, and mobile-friendly; hence Mobile developers love it not only for its speed and extensibility but also because of its high caching ability. 

Is Node Js Easy To Learn? 

You need to learn JavaScript to write code on Node Js. As a result, web developers can easily manipulate data from the database using Node Js and develop more appealing sites. Learning Node.js takes less effort and time.

Node Js Application Example

Streaming app Netflix, Social media network LinkedIn, FinTech apps like JUspay, and online stores like eBay use Node.js

Node Js License

Node Js uses an open-source MIT licence that applies to all parts of the module that are not externally maintained

Node Js Current Version

Node Js current version is v16.9.0

What Is JavaScript? 

Here are some FAQs on JavaScript:  

Is JavaScript a Programming Language? 

On the other hand, JavaScript is a scripting or programming language that allows you to implement complex features on web pages. It involves making websites more lively, collecting user data, and changing HTML attributes which are often static. Javascript also helps display timely content updates, visualizations, animatronic 2D/3D graphics, etc.

Is JavaScript Frontend or Backend? 

JavaScript can be either frontend or backend with the help of Node Js. A host environment hosts JavaScript, the most prevalent is a browser. It’s the front-end in that situation. However, because there are now multiple server host environments, JavaScript could run on the backend.

How Does JavaScript Work? 

Here’s how JavaScript works:

• JavaScript is not a compiled language. Rather; it is an interpreted language. Unlike most other languages, Javascript does not need to be compiled like C++ and Java
• It’s a single-threaded language, meaning that it can only do one thing at a time or a piece of code at a time 
• When a browser encounters a JavaScript code encoded inside a <script></script> tag, it sends the data to the Javascript engine inside the browser 
• The engine will first execute all code that’s not inside a function
• Every time you call a function, the engine creates a new Function Execution Context to run the function. So if many functions are being called, the code will create several FECs
• Javascript will then execute all the code and update the variables with actual values

When To Use JavaScript? 

JavaScript, on the other hand, makes it easy to create dynamic web applications with which users can interact without reloading the page every time. The DOM API frequently uses JavaScript to modify HTML and CSS to update a user interface dynamically. It is most commonly found in web applications.

Why Use Javascript? 

Here are some reasons why you should consider JavaScript

• JavaScript is often used to create web pages and enables us to add dynamic characteristics and special features to the site.
• It is generally used for validation because it allows you to conduct complex operations on the front-end 
• You can also use AJAX to call functions from other programming languages and upload data to the database dynamically

Is JavaScript Popular? 

JavaScript is the world’s most popular programming language, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most in-demand skills in the software industry today. As per the Devskiller IT Skills and Hiring Report 2020, 72% of firms want to recruit JavaScript expertise.

JavaScript Application Example

Every website on the internet uses a bit of JavaScript on their website. We use JavaScript to give interactive and dynamic information. 

JavaScript License

Javascript uses GNU Public License, GNU Lesser, General Public License

Current JavaScript Version

The current JavaScript version is ES2015 

Summary – Is Node Js the Same as JavaScript?

Although Node Js require JavaScript, they are not similar. You can compare JavaScript and Node Js to your engine and car — although your car is synonymous with its engine, the engine does not require a car to run, and it can also be used to power other things effectively.

So just like your car engine, JavaScript can be used to build applications outside Node Js. But just like your car without an engine, you cannot use Node Js without JavaScript. Therefore, Javascript is the engine in Node Js. 

 Is NodeJS Syntax the Same as JavaScript?

Node Js and Javascript use the same syntax. However, JavaScript is a high-level programming language used to create website scripts, while NodeJS is a JavaScript runtime environment. So, even if the code looks similar, it’s used to run different applications. 

 Is Node Js Better Than JavaScript?

JavaScript is a popular programming language used by practically every application developer. It is fairly simple to find a resource on the subject and begin working with JavaScript and doing some basic development.

Node.js is a JavaScript library extension, but it also includes unspecified services. Some, like the non-blocking operating system operation, are used by companies to develop technologies to meet their objectives. If you need Node Js developers to help make your project a reality, contact us for information on how you can get your project started.