Differences Between JavaScript vs JQuery
Before taking a dip into the discussion of JavaScript vs JQuery let’s start with some basic thing which we must be aware of before going further.
JavaScript: The first JavaScript engine was created by Brendan Eich for Netscape Navigator web browser at Netscape. It is implemented in C and its code name was Spider Monkey.
The project was originally called as Mocha, then renamed to Live Script and finally when Netspace and Sun did license agreement it was again renamed to JavaScript.
JavaScript is a scripting language which is used within a browser for interface interaction.
JQuery: The first release of JQuery was in 2006 and it was founded by John Resign.
JQuery is written using JavaScript and its library is to be used by JavaScript. Basically, we can say JQuery is a fast, small and feature-rich JavaScript library. With it, HTML document traversal and manipulation, animation, event handling, Ajax operation are easy to use across multiple browsers.
So we can say that JQuery is a cross-platform JavaScript library designed to simplify the client-side scripting of HTML.
This is some basics which we all should know before moving forward. There are a few terms which are used in the above lines which may raise some curiosity among the beginners. So you can always explore out those terms from the web.
The scope of this document is a comparison between JavaScript vs JQuery which is explained below.
Head To Head Comparison Between JavaScript vs JQuery
Below Is The Top 10 Comparison Between JavaScript vs JQuery
Key Differences Between JavaScript vs JQuery
We already come to know about the difference and similarities of the both JavaScript and JQuery. However, the basic key difference between JavaScript vs JQuery is also summarized below:
- The main advantage of JQuery over JavaScript is the ease with which we can use JQuery. It is a lot more easy to use than standard JavaScript libraries and some other JavaScript libraries with JQuery.
- With JQuery one has to write less line of code which is a big factor as it saves time and also easy to maintain codes with fewer lines.
- JQuery libraries are easily available as it is an open source.
- JQuery website has a comprehensive documentation and tutorials to get help to understand and start programming even to beginners.
- With JQuery cross-browser compatibility it is easy to write codes and developers are also free for doing adjustments which one have to do with JavaScript for different browsers.
- I have also mentioned that JQuery is lightweight as compared to other JavaScript frameworks.
- One of the many advantages of JQuery is also, that it will let developer, develops Ajax templates with ease. Let me explain what is Ajax can do it for you in one line, with it you can simply do some events live reload or refresh a part of the page without reloading the full page.
- As two sides of a coin, it has some disadvantages also among many advantages, like JQuery has impressive libraries in terms of quantity depending upon the customization required. So with the libraries imported, functionalities may be limited and thus writing few lines of raw JavaScript is required in some cases.
- JQuery java scripts files are required to run any JQuery commands.
Comparison Table JavaScript vs JQuery
Below is the list of points, Describe the comparison Between JavaScript vs JQuery
| Basis Of Comparison Between JavaScript vs JQuery | JAVASCRIPT | JQUERY |
| Type | It is a programming language. | It is an API (application programming interface.) |
| Language | It is written in C. It is an interpreted language. | Uses resources given by JavaScript to make things easier. |
| Verbosity/Simplicity | With JavaScript, one needs to write their own scripting which is time-consuming. | With JQuery, one need not write much as scripting already exists. |
| Compatibility | With JavaScript, one needs to handle multiple- browser compatibilities by writing their own code. | With JQuery, as we all know that it is a multi-browser library. |
| Length of Code | With JavaScript, one have to write more lines of code. | With JQuery, one has to write fewer lines of code than JavaScript. |
| Speed | Pure JavaScript is faster in accessing DOM (document object model.) as it cut the overhead which JQuery has. | JQuery is also fast with modern browsers and modern computers. Suited for complex operations where developer are prone to mistakes and writing poor lines of code |
| Client Side/Server Side Language |
Commonly used on Client Side |
Same for JQuery, it is also commonly used on Client Side. |
| Light/Heavy Weight | Other than raw JavaScript, it is heavier than JQuery. | It is a lightweight as compared to other JavaScript libraries |
| Where to write | JavaScript code must be written inside <script> and </script> tag within an HTML. Even we don’t need to import/add any libraries to run JavaScript code. | JQuery code also have to be inserted inside <script> and </script> tags inside HTML. We have to insert/import the JQuery libraries to run the code inside <script> and </script>. JQuery libraries can be inserted/imported in two ways: 1) Download the libraries from jQuery.com 2) Include libraries from CDN (content delivery network.) |
| Syntax | There are no special symbols like JQuery to define JavaScript. We can simply start writing JavaScript code within the script tag in HTML as described earlier. | $(selector).action() $ – a sign to define JQuery. selector – query to find HTML elements. action – JQuery action to be performed. |
Example Of JavaScript vs JQuery
- Both the above codes are tested so you can just copy and paste the codes in different text files and save as with .html extension. Then just double click on the files and it will open in your default web browser or if your default browser is not set, open the files with a web browser.
- When you run the above code in your web browser you will find a button (“Click Me”) and if you click the button it will insert a text/value (“hello world!”) to the text box. Beginners should follow the difference between the two codes.
- As I have mentioned in section B that with JQuery you have to write less code but you may find few more lines where the JQuery function is written as compared to JavaScript function in the above code because it is just a simple operation to make you aware of the basic writing style and syntax.
- When you will try to implement the real business logic you will definitely find that with JQuery you have to write less number of lines.
- In the JQuery (above code), CDN (content delivery network) type is used for importing the JQuery library. You can even copy and paste the URL. in your browser which is written with double quotes inside “src”.With the loading of the URL. in your web browser, you will actually find some code i.e. the JQuery library which is also loaded with your code.
Conclusion JavaScript vs JQuery
So from the above discussion, we can conclude that we need both JavaScript and JQuery while developing the front-end. JQuery has its own advantages and few disadvantages also but if we compare the advantages it out weights the disadvantages. But at the same time even we can’t ignore the importance of raw JavaScript. So in the end, we can conclude with the view that we need JavaScript for developing the front-end and JQuery helps us to use JavaScript with much ease. So we need both based on business requirement.
Recommended Article
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