Updated March 3, 2023
Differences Between Java vs Node JS
Java is an Object-Oriented, general-purpose programming language and class-based. Developers can use the principle – “write once, run anywhere” with Java. Java is portable, which means a program written for any platform must run similarly on a combination of hardware and operating system. Node JS is a runtime library and environment that is cross-platform and used to create running JavaScript applications outside the browser. It is free and open-source and utilized for creating server-side JS applications. Node JS allows developers to execute their code on the server-side. It provides a faster way to write scripts that are scalable and light.
Java
- James Gosling originally developed Java at Sun Microsystem. Much of Java’s syntax is derived from C++, which is also class-based and Object-Oriented. Java is being shipped in the form of JDK (Java Development Kit), which includes various components that are required to run a java program; however, not all the components of JDK are mandatory to run Java. The latest version is Java 10, released in March 2018.
- Java source program is converted to bytecode by the Java compiler, and then this compiled bytecode can be executed on any operating system having compatible JRE (Java Runtime Environment) installed on it. Thus, once written in Java, source code can be run on any platform, which is one of the biggest benefits.
- It is just that appropriate JRE must be installed on a required operating system which can be downloaded from Java’s official website. A compiler would convert Java source code to bytecode, and JVM (Java Virtual Machine), which is created inside JRE (Java Runtime Environment), would convert bytecode to machine code.
- Java has extensive support for concurrency, networking, and GUI (Graphic User Interface). There is a vast number of frameworks that are built using Java. In the current scenario, Spring is vastly used in the web development landscape whose foundation is laid upon Java.
Node JS
- One can easily utilize Node JS for the front end as well as for back-end development as it allows the use of the same JavaScript. Developers can write real-time applications, and at the same time, it provides scope for mobile application development.
- Server-side capabilities are provided extensively in Node JS; a developer can listen to and reply to HTTP requests on the computer, listen to traffic network and at the same time can access the database from a computer directly.
- Node JS uses an event-based model to address scalability and allow rich JavaScript libraries for JavaScript modules which helps in simplify the coding. There are plenty of frameworks based on Node JS, such as Express JS, Partial JS, etc. When it comes to building fast and scalable server-side applications, Node JS is a clear-cut winner.
- Basically, Node JS gives JavaScript the ability to interact with I/O (input/output) devices through its APIs and connect with other external libraries written in various other languages.
Head to Head Comparison Between Java and Node JS
Below are the top 8 comparisons between Java and Node JS:
Key Differences Between Java and Node JS
Some key Differences Between Java and Node JS are explained below.
- Java is a great option for building complex web-based, highly concurrent applications, whereas Node JS is ideal for developing small-sized projects.
- Java requires Java Development Kit, which includes a Java compiler and runtime environment to run Java on any machine, whereas Node JS must be installed through an installable archive file.
- Source code written in Java is compiled into bytecode, and then bytecode is converted to machine code, ready to run on any platform whereas, with Node JS, source code written in a source file is JavaScript, Node JS interpreter will be used to interpret and execute JavaScript code.
- Java is strictly a server-side language that has nothing to do with the browser, whereas Node JS can be used on the client and server-side efficiently.
- Java is heavily used for building complex web-based application with an already provided framework built using Java, whereas Node JS is best suited for real-time collaborative drawing or editing applications like Google Docs.
- Java is an Object-Oriented language that needs to be compiled and run inside JRE (Java Runtime Environment), whereas Node JS is a cross-platform runtime system and environment for applications written in JavaScript.
- Java uses the concept of multithreading with ease, whereas Node JS does not use the concept of multi-threading like Java does.
- For large scale projects that involved concurrency, Java is highly recommended, whereas Node JS does not handle the thread and Java, which is the weakest point of this framework.
- CPU intensive task required huge computational power that can be handled with Java, whereas I/O bound operations like real-time chat, media streaming etc., can be handled well with Node JS.
- Java is a de-facto enterprise standard; it is the most popular programming language in the world, whereas Node JS is a framework that revolves around JavaScript and can achieve parallelism efficiently, which is different from concurrency.
Java and Node JS Comparison Table
Following is the comparison table between Java and Node JS.
| Basis of Comparison between Java vs Node JS | Java | Node JS |
| Creation | Class-based, Object-Oriented language derived from C++. | A framework is written in C, C++, JavaScript |
| Application | Complex web-based, highly concurrent application | A fast and scalable server-side application |
| Project | Suited for complex web-based concurrency project | Best suited for small size projects |
| Usage | Messaging, web application, highly concurrent application | Highly useful when a scalable and faster application is required |
| Installation | Require JDK (Java Development Kit) to run Java | Need to install archive file on a system |
| Scope | Dominate server-side interaction | Developers can utilize it on the client and server-side |
| Frameworks | Spring, Struts, JSF, Tapestry etc. | Has many different frameworks like Express.js, Sails.js, and Partial.js |
| Application | Simplify application development with an Object-Oriented approach | More suited for an application like real-time collaborative drawing/edit like Google Docs |
Conclusion
Java is a programming language, whereas Node JS is a C, C++, and JavaScript framework. There are lots of stuff that can be done with Java efficiently, but not with Node JS and vice-versa. Java has a vast and rich set of libraries and frameworks which are dominating the web development landscape around the globe for years. Node JS is a framework that is highly suitable for JavaScript developers. It works efficiently for the client and server-side part of an application.
Node JS is the preferred choice for I/O bound operations, which is based upon the event-driven model. JavaScript programmer would find more comfort in Node JS since at the core lies JavaScript. Java is a popular programming language that can achieve multiple objectives with its set of frameworks and libraries. JMS (Java Messaging System), JavaFX, Spring, JSF, Struts etc., are some of the tips of the iceberg offered by Java.
Finally, it depends on what applications one wants to build. Anything done with Node JS can be achieved efficiently with Java libraries and frameworks. Super-fast applications can be built with concurrency in Java, whereas event-driven I/O bound applications can be written efficiently with the Node JS framework. At the end of the day, it depends on requirement and developer abilities to understand the technology.
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