Java Applets vs JavaScript

Developers should learn about Java Applets primarily for historical context or when maintaining legacy systems, as they were widely used in the late 1990s and early 2000s for web-based applications meets pick javascript when you're shipping anything that runs in a browser — it's not a preference, it's the only language browsers natively execute, and paired with node. Here's our take.

Java Applets

Nice Pick

Developers should learn about Java Applets primarily for historical context or when maintaining legacy systems, as they were widely used in the late 1990s and early 2000s for web-based applications

Pros

• They are not recommended for new projects due to lack of browser support, security vulnerabilities, and better alternatives available today
• Related to: java, java-virtual-machine

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

JavaScript

Pick JavaScript when you're shipping anything that runs in a browser — it's not a preference, it's the only language browsers natively execute, and paired with Node

Pros

• js it also covers your backend so one team can own the full stack
• Related to: node-js, typescript

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Java Applets is a technology while JavaScript is a language. We picked Java Applets based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Java Applets wins

Based on overall popularity. Java Applets is more widely used, but JavaScript excels in its own space.

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