Python vs JavaScript: Which Should You Learn First?

ElevatEd
Coding
September 21, 2024

Are you trying to learn coding but confused between choosing an easy-to-learn language and one that offers scalability? If so, your search ends here. When searching for the best programming languages to start with, you may have encountered Python and JavaScript—two of the most popular and widely used languages among developers. But which one is the right choice for you?

In this article, we will compare Python and Javascript to understand which programming language is best for you to enter into the world of programming as a beginner.

Introduction to Python and Its Uses

Python was introduced in 1991 as a general-purpose programming language. Getting its name from the famous BBC comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Python gradually became a widely used programming language.

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Due to its simple syntax and great resources Python is considered as the most beginner-friendly programming language. Python has a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks which make it useful for different fields like web development, data analytics, machine learning, etc.

Introduction to Javascript and Its Uses

Introduced in 1995, Javascript got the ECMA-262 standard in 1997. Javascript is also one of the most commonly used programming languages, especially by web developers. Javascript provides the best experience for the developers with its regular upgrades and introduction of new features. The recent upgrade was done in July 2024 with the introduction of ECMA Script 2024.

Javascript is an object-oriented programming language with cross-platform independence primarily used to make web pages dynamic and interactive. Frameworks like React.js, Angula.js, Vue.js, etc make Javascript a scalable and useful programming language for creating efficient full-stack web applications.

Python vs JavaScript: Which one should you choose?

Both Python and JavaScript have their advantages and disadvantages. It is beneficial to have skills in more than one programming language to become a stable and scalable developer. Let us compare Python and Javascript side by side to have a better understanding of which one you should choose as a beginner.

Python vs JavaScript: Ease of learning

Python codes are readable with simple English-like syntax making it most beginner-friendly. The lines of code required for Python are also less than in Javascript with less structural rules like semicolons.

Javascript programs are comparatively complex to understand as a beginner and also debugging a javascript code is quite a tough process than debugging a Python code. So as a beginner-friendly language, Python gets a heads up here.

Python vs JavaScript: Scalability

Javascript offers multi-threading features making it highly scalable to use. Javascript can dynamically handle multiple users with concurrent requests. However, Python codes run on a single thread making it less scalable and complex to handle concurrent requests. So from the perspective of scalability, Javascript wins the race.

Python vs JavaScript: Object-oriented Programming

Python is a pure object-oriented programming providing the capability of supporting the features of OOP like inheritance. However, Javascript is not a pure class-based object-oriented programming. It is a prototype-based object-oriented language, so it depends on the prototype to support inheritance. For object-oriented programming, Python is a better choice.

Python vs JavaScript: Field of Application

For web development, Javascript is a better option as Python web applications take a longer time to respond. Javascript provides a dynamic and responsive web application development environment. On the other hand, Python is the best programming language for data-intensive applications like data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Wrapping up, Both languages have their pros and cons, and choosing one between Python vs Javascript depends upon the choice of field in which you want to work. Excited to learn more about coding? Visit 98thPercentile to learn more about our coding programs for grades 1 to 8.

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