Yes, they are different. The windshield is designed using advanced technology to provide maximum protection to the occupants during a crash or collision. These glasses are laminated safety glasses.
Laminated safety glass has three layers; two curved sheets of glasses are joined together with a plastic layer between them. The plastic layer is placed between the two sheets using lamination technology. This specialized form of glass doesn’t break easily during an accident. On the other hand, the side and the rear auto glasses in a car are tempered glasses. Both these types of glasses react differently in a car crash, accident or collision.