Top 11 most popular programming languages
The world of computer programming is vast and complex.
There are literally hundreds of languages you could learn, and each language has its own specialties, strengths, and weaknesses.
Learning how to program is not easy, but it’s also not impossible.
Coding will require a lot of time and effort — but the payoff in terms of career prospects can be worth it for many people.
The median salary for software developers was $110,140 in 2020, and software developers commonly rank high on job lists for satisfaction and pay.
#1: JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language mainly used for creating interactive effects on web pages (like ours!).
It can be used to make web pages more dynamic and interactive. With recent advances, it’s possible to use JavaScript to write server-side or backend code as well.
JavaScript has been around for a long time and has been evolving over the years and it’s one of the most popular programming languages in the world.
JavaScript is not going anywhere anytime soon.
#2: HTML / CSS
HTML and CSS are programming languages that provide the backbone for web design.
You’re probably wondering, “Why would I need to know HTML or CSS?” The answer is simple: designing and coding a website is not just about looking pretty.
HTML and CSS let you do things like create interactive menus, apply animations, create forms, adjust text size, or even change the background color.
#3: Python
Python is a high-level programming language that has been around since 1991. It is free and open-source, which means that it can be used to create any kind of software. Python is also the fastest growing language in the world, according to a 2017 survey by Stack Overflow.
Python is an interpreted programming language, which means that it needs to be translated before it can be run on a computer. The interpreter takes Python code as input and translates it into instructions for the computer’s processor. This process happens each time the code is executed, so programs written in Python will run much slower than those written in compiled languages like C++ or Java.
However, this also means that Python has one of the simplest syntaxes of any programming language and can be used by beginners with no experience.
#4: SQL (Structured Query Language)
SQL is a very popular programming language used for adding, changing, or removing data within databases.
SQL is an acronym that stands for Structured Query Language. The SQL language is also used for modifying tables, views, stored procedures, and changing data definitions.
The SQL language has been standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
#5: Java
Java is a general-purpose programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.
Java programs are compiled to bytecode that can run on any Java virtual machine regardless of computer architecture. This means that you can write Java once and (mostly) use it anywhere.
Java is used for creating web, desktop, and mobile applications.
#6: TypeScript
Typescript is a programming language that is commonly used to create web applications. It is also a superset of JavaScript, which means that it inherits all the features of JavaScript.
Typescript is open-source and it was created by Microsoft in 2012. It was created to improve upon JavaScript and add more features to it like static typing, classes, and interfaces.
Typescript can be used for many different purposes including server-side web applications, client-side web applications, desktop apps, mobile apps, etc.
#7: C#
C# (pronounced “C Sharp”) is a programming language that was developed by Microsoft and released in 2000.
C# is a part of the .NET Framework and is used to create console applications, Windows Forms applications, web applications, mobile apps, and games.
C# is a type of object-oriented programming language that supports procedural programming, structured programming, and generic programming.
C# was designed to be simple yet powerful with an emphasis on safety.
#8: Bash / Shell
The Bash programming language, also known as the Bourne-Again Shell (Bash), is a Unix shell and command language written by Brian Fox for the GNU Project in 1989.
It was meant to be a free software replacement for the Bourne shell. Its name is an abbreviation of “Bourne-again shell.”
Bash has been distributed widely as the default login shell for Linux distributions, Apple’s macOS operating system, and other Unix-like systems.
#9: C++
C++ is a general-purpose programming language that has been around for over 30 years.
C++ is a general-purpose language which means that it can be used to perform any task, but it is typically used for system programming, embedded software, high-performance computing (HPC), and video game development.
#10: PHP
The PHP programming language is a server-side scripting language that is used to develop web-based applications. PHP is designed to be the glue of the Internet, and it’s easy to learn and use.
The PHP programming language has many features that make it a great choice for web development, especially in environments where you don’t have much control over the server. It’s a dynamic scripting language that has both procedural and object-oriented features.
PHP also has an interactive mode so you can easily test your code as you write it, without needing to run it first.
The interactive mode makes it easier for developers who are new to programming because they can just experiment with their code before they try running their application for the first time.
#11: C
C is a general-purpose programming language.
It was originally developed by Dennis Ritchie between 1969 and 1973 at Bell Labs and has since become one of the most widely used programming languages of all time.
C is used for developing system software, application software, device drivers, embedded software, high-performance server applications, high-efficiency math libraries, and graphics programs.
Which programming language is best to learn in 2022 and beyond?
In the list above, you can see which is the most popular programming language, but answering which to learn really depends on your goals and the type of projects you want to work on.
The most common programming languages in job postings are JavaScript, Python, Java, and C#.
However, there is not one single programming language that dominates the programming landscape.
My favorite programming language is C#. What’s yours?
This post originally appeared on Career Beast as Top 11 Most Popular Programming Languages
