In fact, other than their similar names, on a technical level, they don't have much in common. Java is a programming language, created in 1995 by Sun Microsystems. Its programs are popular because they run on all operating systems. But even for its advantages, Java can be slow. Its most widely known use is to write mini-programs, called 'applets,' that run in Web browsers.
Applets make updates slide across a screen in a ticker and display animations with sound.
Java also powers most Web chat rooms. But Java applets are the domain of programmers, period. JavaScript, developed by Netscape, is a less-complicated programming language. It allows designers to add interactivity to Web pages and users to take advantage of that interactivity through a browser. Unlike Java, it can't be used to write stand-alone applications or applets.