Typescript vs Javascript: Which One is Better for Web Development?

Two of the most widely used programming languages for building client-side web apps are TypeScript and JavaScript. While they differ in fundamental ways, such as static versus dynamic typing, they both have comparable syntax.

JavaScript has been around since 1995, and all modern browsers support it natively. It’s a key component of the web and uses scripting to power client-side logic. While it lacks compiler checking, its dynamic nature allows for flexibility.

Microsoft created TypeScript in 2010 as a typed superset of JavaScript that still compiles to standard JavaScript but adds support for tooling and static typing. To reduce bugs, it strives to implement full checking during development.

Since then, TypeScript has spread rapidly because it promises to improve code quality and developer productivity. In fact, according to the JetBrains Developer Ecosystem Report 2024, adoption of TypeScript has surged from about 12 % in 2017 to around 35 % in 2024.

Since then, TypeScript has spread rapidly because it promises to improve code quality and developer productivity. However, since JavaScript is so widely used, a complete replacement is not practical. As a result, there are different opinions about whether to use JavaScript or TypeScript for a new project.

To determine which is the better option in different situations, this blog examines the main differences between TypeScript and JavaScript in terms of their type systems, tooling, performance, and ecosystem. It also answers frequently asked questions that developers have when choosing a language.

What is JavaScript?

The most widely used programming language worldwide is called JavaScript (JS). It is considered a high-level language that facilitates the development of dynamic and interactive websites. JavaScript is one of the core technologies for online applications, along with HTML and CSS. It is distinguished by its just-in-time (JIT) compiler and dynamic typing.

Additionally, because it supports imperative, event-driven, and functional programming approaches, it is a multi-paradigm language. JavaScript was implemented on the client side, meaning the user's browser runs the script. However, it also provides engines that enable server-side execution, in which scripts are executed on the web server and the result is tailored to each user's specific request.

It was largely due to the development and popularity of Node.js that JavaScript began to emerge as a server-side technology. However, large and complex JavaScript applications are difficult to manage because the code becomes difficult to maintain and reuse as it grows larger. As a result, JavaScript on the server (backend) makes things messy and difficult to manage, despite its advantages. Microsoft released TypeScript to address this difficulty.

Key Takeaways from JavaScript

•    Most popular programming language;
•    Complete, cross-platform, multi-paradigm, dynamic language;
•    Client-side and server-side execution.
•    JIT compilation;
•    Compatible with all browsers;
•    Designed for small scripts.

JavaScript: Pros and Cons

After learning the difference between TypeScript and JavaScript, it's time to study the pros and cons of each programming language so that you can make a wise choice.

Pros of JavaScript

•    Due to its great adaptability and versatility, JavaScript enables rapid development and prototyping.
•    With many libraries and frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue.js, it boasts a large ecosystem and strong community support.
•    Direct execution without additional compilation is supported by all contemporary web browsers.
•    Its simple syntax and wealth of resources make it easy for beginners to learn and get started.

Cons of JavaScript 

•    Runtime error detection results in more debugging and possible runtime failure.
•    Code that lacks static typing can have type-related issues and is less predictable.
•    Your productivity and the quality of your code may suffer from the lack of built-in tools compared to TypeScript. Due to their lack of structure and dynamic typing, large, complex codebases can be difficult to manage and scale.

What is TypeScript?

Although JavaScript can handle hundreds of lines of code, it was not specifically designed to handle large and complex applications. As a result, TypeScript (TS) works similarly to JavaScript and is a superset of it. However, due to its strong typing and compile-time error controls, it was designed to manage and develop large applications.

More specifically, TypeScript is a programming language that offers inheritance features, classes, visibility scopes, namespaces, interfaces, unions, and other contemporary features, in addition to supporting both static and dynamic typing. Comments, variables, functions, statements, modules, and expressions are also enabled.

Both client-side and server-side programs can leverage TS. Additionally, TypeScript is compatible with JavaScript libraries.

Key Takeaways from TypeScript

•    A superset of JavaScript, thus compatible with JS libraries.
•    Strongly typed, compiled language, can follow OOP principles.
•    Easy to debug;
•    Provides static typing;
•    Offers full IDE support.
•    Can convert your code to JavaScript code.

TypeScript: Pros and Cons

Learn more about the pros and cons of TypeScript by following down the article:

Pros of TypeScript

•    Its static typing reduces runtime issues and improves code quality and dependencies by identifying errors at compile time.
•    Excellent IDE support with features including powerful refactoring tools, real-time error checking, and IntelliSense.
•    Large applications benefit from its improved maintainability and easy handling of complex code bases.
•    Improves code organization by adding new features and supporting contemporary JavaScript features.

Cons of TypeScript

•    TypeScript cons include the additional time and effort required to learn, especially if you are unfamiliar with sophisticated programming principles like static typing.
•    Before execution, it must be transpiled to JavaScript, which adds another step to the development process.
•    Compared to JavaScript, compilation and type checking can cause a slight slowdown in development.
•    Integrating TypeScript into existing projects requires additional setup and configuration, which some teams may find difficult.

Relationship between TypeScript and JavaScript

JavaScript and TypeScript have a mutually beneficial partnership in which TypeScript builds on the foundation of JavaScript. Additional capabilities such as interfaces, type checking, and static typing are introduced by TypeScript, which improves code quality and maintainability. Despite these improvements, TypeScript code can be easily translated into JavaScript code, which guarantees compatibility with all contemporary browsers and Node.js environments.

In this process, the TypeScript compiler is essential because it converts TypeScript code into plain JavaScript code that can be run by any JavaScript engine. This compatibility preserves JavaScript’s adaptability and broad support while enabling you to take advantage of the latest features of TypeScript.

Below, we’ll review the differences between TypeScript and JavaScript.

1.    Interoperability with JavaScript

One of TypeScript’s most notable features is its ability to work with existing JavaScript code. Because of this interoperability, it’s easy to integrate TypeScript code with JavaScript libraries and frameworks, making it easy to convert JavaScript projects to TypeScript.

Since TypeScript works with well-known build technologies like Webpack, Rollup, and Parcel, it’s easy to integrate into your existing development process. Thanks to this seamless integration, you can take advantage of TypeScript’s enhanced functionality and error-checking capabilities while using your preferred JavaScript libraries.

2.    JavaScript to TypeScript Conversion

The process of switching from JavaScript to TypeScript is simple. You can start by renaming your JavaScript files to TypeScript files, because any valid JavaScript code is also valid TypeScript code. You can start using TypeScript features with this first step without making major changes to your existing codebase. 

To take full advantage of TypeScript's capabilities, you should include type annotations in your code. These annotations will increase the maintainability of your code and help you identify errors quickly. You can improve the quality of your code and build more reliable applications by gradually adding type annotations and other TypeScript capabilities.

3.    Performance and Scalability

TypeScript aims to help you create code that is extensible and manageable. Its static typing approach prevents runtime issues and improves your performance by identifying errors early in the development process. TypeScript facilitates better code organization and structure by imposing type constraints, making it easier to manage and scale large code bases.

Although TypeScript’s compilation process adds a small overhead, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Large-scale web development projects often choose TypeScript because of its better code organization and early error detection, which increases performance and maintainability. You can build reliable apps with TypeScript that are easy to scale and maintain over time.

JavaScript vs. TypeScript: A Comprehensive Comparison

It’s important to compare TypeScript vs. JavaScript based on key development criteria, such as type system, performance, scalability, and tools support.

This comprehensive analysis will help you make the best decision based on your project's needs by understanding the pros, cons, and best use cases.

•    Code Maintenance

TypeScript: TypeScript greatly increases maintainability through the use of static types, interfaces, and modules. For large-scale projects, TypeScript teams claim a 30% reduction in time spent debugging and refactoring code.

JavaScript: As the codebase grows, its lack of static typing makes it more difficult to maintain. To enforce structure in large projects, additional tools such as ESLint are often needed, although they fall short of TypeScript's built-in features.

•    Typing System

TypeScript: Statically typed, which verifies the type of variables at compile time. This guarantees high code quality and reduces runtime errors. A 2023 survey by Stack Overflow found that because TypeScript is type-safe, 85% of its users report fewer errors in production.

JavaScript: Dynamically typed, in which the type of a variable is determined at runtime. This speed up code, but it also increases the likelihood of type-related errors. According to the same survey, 48% of JavaScript users said they had difficulty resolving issues related to types.

•    Compatibility

TypeScript: Adds overhead to the development process by requiring a build step to compile JavaScript. For smaller projects, compilation typically increases the development cycle by 15% to 20%.

JavaScript: It is faster for rapid prototyping because it can be used immediately in any browser or runtime environment without requiring additional setup.

•    Error detection

TypeScript: Fewer bugs in production are ensured by detecting errors during development (compile time). According to a GitHub analysis from 2023, TypeScript projects typically reduce production errors by 15% to 20%.

JavaScript: Unexpected program crashes can result from errors that are only recognized during execution, or runtime. Research shows that JavaScript programs are 30% more likely to have runtime issues than TypeScript.

•    Performance

TypeScript: Although the compilation process adds a small overhead, the JavaScript that is produced works just as effectively. However, early error detection in large projects can save developers up to 20% of runtime debugging effort.

JavaScript: Since there is no compilation phase, it is slightly faster for small projects, but runtime errors can affect the speed of large apps.

•    Tooling and Developer Experience

TypeScript: Provides cutting-edge tools such as inline error detection, autocompletion, and IntelliSense. A JetBrains (2023) developer survey found that developers who use TypeScript spend 25% less time troubleshooting.

JavaScript: Although supported by modern editors, autocompletion and error checking are limited due to the absence of static types. Large JavaScript projects require a lot of time to debug.

•    Community and Ecosystem

TypeScript: TypeScript is rapidly expanding. According to GitHub's Octoverse report, usage increased by 250% between 2019 and 2023. TypeScript is natively supported by frameworks such as Angular.

JavaScript: JavaScript has been the foundation of web development for many years. 98% of all websites use it in some way. With a large tool and framework library, its ecosystem has developed.

•    Ease of learning

TypeScript: A bit difficult to understand as it requires additional knowledge of JavaScript and static typing. According to a Stack Overflow survey (2022), TypeScript has a moderate to high learning curve for 65% of engineers.

JavaScript: Easy to learn for beginners. According to the same survey, due to JavaScript's ease of use and lack of compilation phase, 82% of developers start their programming careers with it.

Which should I choose: JavaScript or TypeScript?

The complexity of the project, the skill set of the team, and the long-term goals of the organization all play a role in the decision between TypeScript and JavaScript. Both are beneficial and suitable for different development contexts. Here’s a complete comparison so you can make the best choice for your needs:

When should I use TypeScript?

It may be better to use TypeScript development services if:

•    To improve code maintainability, your project or app needs TypeScript’s static typing and other capabilities if it’s large or complex.
•    By refactoring the code over time, TypeScript’s type safety and other object-oriented features reduce technical debt and make it easier to maintain.
•    Multiple developers can work more easily on the same codebase because of TypeScript’s static typing, which also helps improve code quality and prevent common issues.
•    Because TypeScript uses type annotations to self-document, new users can understand its codebase more quickly.
•    Its advanced IDEs, such as Visual Studio Code, provide flawless features such as auto-completion, real-time error detection, and advanced refactoring to reduce development time and resource usage.
•    TypeScript’s compile-time type checking eliminates the need to detect errors at runtime by catching errors immediately.
•    Your project will be more future-proof because of TypeScript’s extensible and adaptable constructs, which offer a solid foundation.
•    The growing adoption of TypeScript by contemporary frameworks and libraries such as React and Angular is introducing a new trend.

When should I use JavaScript?

JavaScript may be a better option if:

•    Your projects are small, and the codebase is easier and less complex to manage, and type checking is not required.
•    JavaScript is useful if you need to design or prototype an application with a faster iteration cycle.
•    If your development team is proficient in JavaScript and has a lot of experience with it, the learning curve is reduced.
•    For active projects, switching to a new language is avoided by using the existing JavaScript codebase.
•    Since JavaScript works in every browser, it is ideal for client-side development.
•    A large ecosystem with lots of frameworks, tools, and community support to speed up integration and query resolution.

Should I Learn TypeScript or JavaScript?

TypeScript adds optional static types, interfaces, and class features to the JavaScript syntax. Since TypeScript has strong type safety and compiler checks that reduce errors, learning it is beneficial for new projects.

Nevertheless, JS continues to offer excellent browser compatibility and support. For a full-stack career, it is usually better to learn both.

Will TypeScript Replace JavaScript?

Given its prevalence in web development, TypeScript is unlikely to completely replace JavaScript. However, due to its powerful typing, compiler capabilities, and status as a superset of JavaScript, TypeScript is expected to emerge as the standard language of choice for new, cutting-edge online apps.

It guarantees large-scale programs that are secure and easy to maintain. While TypeScript will replace JavaScript for new large projects due to its advantages, JavaScript will still be necessary for runtime compatibility.

Conclusion

Which is superior, TypeScript or JavaScript? It is difficult to compare TypeScript and JavaScript. It is clear that TypeScript addresses many of JavaScript's shortcomings when comparing the performance of the two languages. Since it is compiled into JavaScript and acts as a supplementary tool, it is unlikely to completely replace JavaScript. Better readability, easier debugging, and better type safety are some of the advantages of TypeScript over JavaScript.

The main difference between TypeScript and JavaScript is that, unlike JavaScript, TypeScript uses static typing to enhance code organization and error detection. TypeScript's use of type annotations is the primary source of other syntactic changes between TypeScript and JavaScript. Although there are differences between TypeScript and JavaScript, they are not very significant. Since TypeScript involves compilation, which adds a bit of overhead, JavaScript performs slightly better than TypeScript in terms of performance.

TypeScript adds tools for more structured development to JavaScript, including type safety, which nevertheless serves as the foundation for web development. Key benefits of TypeScript include better maintainability and fewer runtime errors, making it more suitable for larger projects, while JavaScript is simpler, more flexible, and best suited for faster prototyping projects. Despite the additional translation, TypeScript behaves similarly to JavaScript at runtime.

Using a cross-platform app development framework can help teams build applications that work on multiple platforms by increasing code reuse and productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.    Is JavaScript inferior to TypeScript?

In general, it is not advisable to use TypeScript to completely replace an older JavaScript codebase. JavaScript and TypeScript can coexist due to their strong compatibility, which allows TypeScript code to be used with JavaScript libraries and vice versa. While existing codebases can migrate slowly, TypeScript is a better way to start new projects.

2.    Can every JavaScript environment run TypeScript?

Yes, TypeScript can run in any JavaScript environment because it compiles JavaScript.

3.    Unlike JavaScript, how does TypeScript handle static typing?

JavaScript dynamically determines types at runtime, but TypeScript uses static typing to detect errors at compile time.

4.    What makes TypeScript important to learn?

A variety of functions, including numbers, booleans, strings, and several more data types, including unions and enums, are known to be supported by TypeScript. Compile-time checking ensures that there are no client-side runtime errors. Additionally, TypeScript’s more robust type system with interfaces makes it possible to quickly identify the structure of an object before it is used in code and helps prevent errors caused by mismatched types at runtime.

5.    Do JS and TS have much in common?

Based on usage data, JavaScript is now the most widely used and popular language. However, due to TypeScript's type safety and tooling advantages, its use in new projects is rapidly expanding. Use case and requirements determine popularity as both have large communities and promising futures.