JavaScript is not Java: Difference between revisions
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See also the [http://www.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia] articles on [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/JavaScript JavaScript] and [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_programming_language Java]. | See also the [http://www.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia] articles on [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/JavaScript JavaScript] and [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_programming_language Java]. | ||
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Revision as of 23:37, 26 September 2005
A source of much confusion
JavaScript is a completely separate technology from Java. Java was the ‘in thing’ back in the days when Brendan Eich at Netscape created a programming language that was originally going to be called LiveScript, so unfortunately they decided to rename it from LiveScript to JavaScript in the hope of catching the media’s interest.
A JavaScript script is usually a small series of commands that are often embedded in a webpage to do things like create fly-out menus, invoke pop-up windows, and validate form data. Support for JavaScript is built into all XUL-based applications such as Firefox, Thunderbird and Mozilla Suite. (Note that JavaScript is actually a complete programming language, and it is one of the languages in which Mozilla products are written.)
Java is a programming language used to create stand-alone software applications (including games). Java programs can also be embedded in webpages, in which case they are called ‘applets’. Java applications and applets require additional software (the Java Runtime Environment) to be installed on your system.
For more information about running these technologies in your Mozilla product you should consult the JavaScript and Java articles.
See also the Wikipedia articles on JavaScript and Java.
