There are a huge number of areas in the IT field: from creating games and applications to developing robots that completely replace human labor. Programming languages would only quickly solve problems in these areas. Therefore, it is important to understand that lists of the best programming languages are subjective and usually based on how popular, versatile, and comfortable the language is to work with.
What programming languages are
Before moving on to the top 5 programming languages, let’s find out what languages are and what tasks they solve. To do this, we have selected ten languages that are not similar and will tell you a little about each. The sequence in this list is random – it’s not a ranking yet. And then, we will tell you which languages from the list are most popular among programmers.
Do you know that…
At the time of this writing, there are over 8,000 programming languages! Some are used by a limited number of programmers, while others are in demand among millions.
Java language
A general-purpose programming language that consistently ranks high in popularity ratings. Java applications can run on any computer; a Java virtual machine has been created for this. Java is actively developing mobile applications for the Android operating system.
Such successful projects as RuneScape, Yahoo, Amazon, eBay, and LinkedIn are written in Java.
The disadvantages of Java are the slow operation of programs and the high consumption of RAM.
C language
The C language is used to develop operating systems and real-time applications. It is also used as an intermediate when compiling higher-level languages.
The C language is complex and contains elements that can easily be mistaken, it contributes to the creation of confusing and far-from-safe code. For 40 years of existence, it has become obsolete, and this significantly reduces its performance in our time.
The C syntax became the basis for other programming languages: C++, Java, C#, and Objective-C.
Python language
Python is easy to learn and is often used when teaching children how to code – for example, in the Skysmart online school. Programs in Python are close to natural language, so it is great as a first language for a novice programmer.
This is a very common language, and many projects have been implemented. Google heavily uses Python, and most of YouTube’s source code is written in it. It is also often used in the creation of robotic machines.
The strengths of Python are modularity and the ability to integrate with other languages, and among the disadvantages are low speed and high memory consumption.
C++ language
This language is one of the most popular and widely used for software development. With it, programmers create operating systems, various application programs, device drivers, embedded applications, and games. The C++ syntax is inherited from the C language.
Go language (golang)
The youngest on our list: its development began in 2007 internally at Google as a replacement for C and C++. Go has grown in popularity over the past few years, ranking high in the rankings of the most used programming languages.
C# language
The name of the language is read as “sea sharp.” It was developed in 1998-2001 within Microsoft to create applications.
C# belongs to the family of languages with C-like syntax, of which it is closest to C++ and Java. Therefore, C# has a rather complex syntax, which is a disadvantage.
Compared to C and C++, C# has safe code. C# is ten times slower than C.
Fortran language
This is an example of a highly specialized language. It is widely used for engineering calculations. A large number of programs and libraries of subroutines have been written in Fortran, for example, for matrix algebra, differential equations, integral equations, mathematical statistics, and other disciplines. Such packages have been developed over the years, and some of them are still popular in the scientific field.
JavaScript language
Make sure to distinguish it from Java – they are different and completely different languages.
JavaScript creates graphics, mobile, and web applications in browser operating systems. It is very versatile and quite easy to learn.
PHP language
Widely used to create web applications, leading in use for creating dynamic sites. PHP has gone through rapid evolution and has become in demand among programmers. However, it is often criticized by programmers for its inconsistent syntax.
Scratch language
Designed for kids and teens who are just getting started with programming. With it, you can create simple applications and games. Skysmart Online School has a Scratch course where children learn how to design their 2D games and cartoons.
Top 5 Programming Languages
We analyzed 19 lists of the most popular programming languages in professional forums, and based on them; we made our rating:
- JavaScript
- Python
- Java
- C#
- PHP
JavaScript became the leader in popularity, but Python was a significant contender in the first place. Let’s look at the diagram of how the places were distributed.
According to 37% of the forums, JavaScript is at the top of the list in terms of popularity. Python is quite a bit behind it – 26% among the first places, but 37% of IT sites put it in second place, which is why it was second in our ranking.
Java is the third most popular language, according to 26% of forum users, but it could compete with Python for second place. Several languages fought for fourth place at once, but still, 16% of the votes were given to C#. Among the fifth places, the largest percentage was occupied by PHP.
And although the rankings change every year, some languages improve and become more in demand, while others become obsolete and fall lower; these five programming languages are found in the first positions in approximately the same composition from year to year. This means that they are more versatile and popular than the rest.
And yet, choosing a programming language for work, you should not focus only on its popularity. Learning any language requires attentiveness, a desire to learn, and a clear goal. Many programmers master several programming languages, which is even more valuable.
Programming courses for children and teenagers at the Skysmart online school introduce students to the most common programming languages - JavaScript and Python. Courses cover a variety of purposes: creating games, applications, and web development. And if you still don’t know what to choose, come to a free introductory lesson, and our methodologist will help you decide on the development trajectory.
