TypeScript vs JavaScript: Which One Should You Choose in 2024?

When building modern web applications, the debate between TypeScript and JavaScript continues to grow. JavaScript is the backbone of the web, but TypeScript is quickly becoming the go-to language for large-scale applications. So which one should you choose?

🟡 JavaScript: The Language of the Web

JavaScript has been around since 1995 and is the default scripting language for the web. Every browser understands it, and it's extremely versatile.

✅ Pros of JavaScript

• Ubiquity: Runs in every browser.
• Flexibility: Dynamic typing allows rapid prototyping.
• Massive ecosystem: Countless libraries and frameworks (React, Vue, Node.js).
• No compilation needed: Write and run immediately.

❌ Cons of JavaScript

• Lack of type safety: Can lead to runtime errors.
• Harder to maintain: As apps grow, debugging becomes trickier.
• Tooling: Less helpful IDE support without types.

🔵 TypeScript: JavaScript With Superpowers

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript developed by Microsoft. It adds static typing, interfaces, and advanced tooling, and then compiles to plain JavaScript.

✅ Pros of TypeScript

• Type safety: Catches bugs at compile time.
• Better tooling: Autocompletion, refactoring, and inline documentation are vastly improved.
• Scalability: Easier to manage large codebases.
• Modern features: Supports latest ECMAScript features with polyfills.

❌ Cons of TypeScript

• Learning curve: Requires understanding of types and generics.
• Setup overhead: Needs build tools like tsc, ts-node, or bundlers.
• Compilation step: Adds time to development.

⚔️ TypeScript vs JavaScript: Side-by-Side

Feature	JavaScript	TypeScript
Typing	Dynamic	Static (with inference)
Compilation	Not required	Required (tsc)
IDE Support	Good	Excellent
Community Size	Larger	Growing rapidly
Learning Curve	Lower	Higher
Maintainability	Moderate	High

🧠 When to Use Which?

• Use JavaScript if:

  • You're working on a small project or prototype.
  • You need quick iterations and minimal tooling.
  • Your team has no experience with TypeScript.

• Use TypeScript if:

  • You're building a large or long-term project.
  • You want fewer bugs and better developer experience.
  • You're working in a team where maintainability matters.

🧰 Using TypeScript and JavaScript in Modern Frameworks

⚛️ React

React works seamlessly with both JavaScript and TypeScript. However, TypeScript provides stronger typing and better IDE support.

• JavaScript: Quick to get started, especially for small components and prototypes.
• TypeScript: Encouraged for larger applications. With tools like create-react-app and Vite, setting up TypeScript is straightforward.

Example:

type Props = {
  name: string;
};

const Greeting: React.FC<Props> = ({ name }) => <h1>Hello, {name}!</h1>;

🖼️ Vue.js

Vue supports TypeScript natively starting from version 3 with the Composition API. Its reactivity system integrates well with TypeScript.

• JavaScript: Simpler for beginners or quick projects.
• TypeScript: Great for maintainable, large-scale Vue apps.

Example:

<script lang="ts" setup>
import { ref } from 'vue';

const count = ref<number>(0);
</script>

🅰️ Angular

Angular was built with TypeScript in mind. In fact, Angular applications are written in TypeScript by default.

• JavaScript: Not recommended unless you're working on legacy codebases.
• TypeScript: Mandatory for all modern Angular apps.

Example:

export class AppComponent {
  title: string = 'My Angular App';
}

🚀 Framework Summary

Framework	JavaScript Support	TypeScript Support	Recommended
React	✅ Full	✅ Full	TypeScript for scalability
Vue.js	✅ Full	✅ Full (v3+)	TypeScript preferred in v3
Angular	⚠️ Limited	✅ First-class	TypeScript only

🧩 Final Thoughts

JavaScript is still the foundation of the web, but TypeScript enhances it with structure and safety. In 2024, many major companies and open-source projects are opting for TypeScript by default. If you're starting a serious project today, TypeScript is worth the investment.