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Digital Literacy Computer Basics Computer Languages What Some Common Languages Do and How They Work Together

David Odum
David Odum
1,860 Points
Posted by David Odum
David Odum
1,860 Points

Video calls Java a back-end language, but quiz calls Javascript a front-end language?

Are Java and Javascript different? If not, what gives?

3 Answers

Luke Pettway
Luke Pettway
16,593 Points

JavaScript and Java are two entirely different languages. The creators of JS wanted to piggy back off of Java's popularity at the time. Javascript can actually be both front-end and back-end now (think NodeJS).

Joe Thompson
Joe Thompson
2,343 Points
Joe Thompson
Joe Thompson
2,343 Points

Just to clarify Luke's answer, he's right they are completely different. JavaScript is thought of as a front-end language (in the quiz and elsewhere) in that it provides interactivity to web sites, and can add some graphical elements. Java does more "back-end" stuff like the math of a pizza order. For example in Android studio you will use xml to do the front end (the graphics of your app) and Java to do the back end (taking input and producing output). Hope that helps!

Zacharie Ocon
Zacharie Ocon
684 Points
Zacharie Ocon
Zacharie Ocon
684 Points

Thank you for the clarification Luke and Joe. It definitely helped me!