In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide that contains the most important and best programming languages currently used, as there are thousands of languages. Programming Today's programming languages are not like our languages—there are no vocabulary or alphabets. They're more like codes—special commands and shortcuts.
All programs in our daily lives are written in some type of programming language. Each programming language is unique, designed for a specific operating system, platform, programming style, and intended use.
This article is here to provide you with some basic information about 12 of the most important modern programming languages that you should learn.
See: What is programming? A simple summary that helps you understand it.
What are the best modern programming languages?
The first step in learning programming, whether it's for fun, a new job, or to improve your current situation, is to settle on a programming language.
The truth is, there's no right answer to the best programming languages to learn today. Your initial choice of language should reflect your career goals, the type of clients you wish to acquire, and the level of difficulty you wish to face. We hope this guide helps you decide which path to take.
The most challenging aspect of learning programming, if you're new to the software development profession, is knowing where to start. Today, hundreds of programming languages are in widespread use. The good news is that as you progress along the software development path, you'll begin to learn which programming language best suits you, your interests, and your career aspirations.
In this article, we cover the best languages for web development, mobile development, game development, and more.
JavaScript language
JavaScript It is a very prominent programming language for websites, first appearing in 1995. It is a high-level, interpreted scripting language. Its primary platform is web browsers, but it has also recently gained popularity on web servers through Node.js. It ranks high on the list of the best programming languages.
function myFunc(a, b) {
return a * b;
}
document.getElementById('demo').innerHTML = myFunc(4, 3);Example JavaScript code from W3Schools
JavaScript is widely used to add functionality and interactivity to web pages. We all rely on it every day—try turning off JavaScript in your browser settings and see how much functionality your favorite websites lose!
Although JavaScript was dismissed as a "toy" programming language in its early days, it has since gained respect among programmers. Its popularity has grown to the point that it is now the most widely used programming language in the world.
Python language
Python It is a high-level, interpreted programming language that runs on a variety of platforms. It was created in 1991 by Guido van Rossum. Python was designed to emphasize code readability, with clear and expressive syntax. Many people choose to learn Python first for this very reason.
words = ['cat', 'window', 'defenestrate']
for w in words:
print w, len(w)Example Python code from Python.org
Python is a general-purpose language, primarily used for writing scientific and numerical programs. It's also one of the least used programming languages on the web, but is used by some of the biggest players—most notably Google.
SQL language
SQL It stands for Structured Query Language. It has been used to interact with databases since 1974. SQL code is often written as stand-alone lines known as queries. Each query is designed to either create, read, update, or delete data in a database.
SELECT Country FROM Customers WHERE Country <> 'USA'SQL example code from W3Schools
SQL is a vital part of programs such as WordPress and MediaWiki This site runs on WordPress and relies on SQL to create, read, update, and delete content such as articles, images, and metadata. Similarly, MediaWiki powers Wikipedia and relies on SQL to store all its articles and handle all their edits.
PHP language
PHP It is a programming language for producing dynamic web pages. It was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995. It has the ability to send SQL queries and output HTML, and can be described as the link between the database that stores all the content on a website and the HTML that enables it to be displayed. This language is considered one of the most important programming languages.
PHP is a web server platform. It is a high-level, interpreted scripting language, but it has the lowest level of access of any web server language.
<?php function add($x, $y) {
$total = $x + $y;
return $total;
}
echo "1 + 16 = " . add(1, 16);Example PHP code provided by W3Schools
PHP is a slightly different language than JavaScript. PHP scripts are executed by the server hosting the website, while JavaScript is executed by the browser displaying the website. While JavaScript focuses on effects and interactivity, PHP's main function is to send SQL queries to a database program. MySQL , and receive data from the database to output it in HTML format.
Although some modern programmers have overlooked it in recent years, PHP remains extremely popular as a web programming language. It is used by the likes of Facebook, WordPress, and Wikipedia.
Ruby language
Ruby language was created In 1995, it was created by Yukihiro Matsumoto. It was designed to be fun and productive to write, with the needs of programmers—rather than computers—in mind. Ruby is a high-level, interpreted language that gained popularity on the web through the Ruby on Rails framework.
cities = %w[London Oslo Paris Amsterdam Berlin]
visited = %w[Berlin Oslo]
puts "I still need to visit:", cities - visitedExample Ruby code from Ruby-lang.org
The Ruby on Rails web framework runs on a web server and outputs HTML, just like PHP. It powers many websites, including Twitter, and many web programmers these days see Rails as a modern alternative to PHP.
C language
It can be said that the father of modern programming languages is C. C has been around since 1972, and while it's not easy to learn, it's extremely powerful. C is a compiled language and the lowest-level language of all the languages listed here. It's easily integrated into almost every operating system.
typedef struct Bert Bert;
typedef struct Wilma Wilma;
struct Bert {
Wilma *wilma;
};
struct Wilma {
Bert *bert;
};C is used in a variety of fields and platforms, including Microsoft Windows and much of its software. C is a truly multi-level programming language.
C++ language
C++ language It is an enhanced version of C that adds the object-oriented paradigm. It was created by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979. C++ is a compiled language and runs on multiple hardware platforms.
#include
using namespace std;
int main () {
cout << "Hello World!";
return 0;
}Example C++ code from CPlusPlus.com
Most computer games are written in C++. The language also accompanies C in the source code of Microsoft Windows and associated software.
C Sharp language
C Sharp Like C++, it has its roots in C. Also written as C#, the language was developed by Microsoft in 2000 and is widely used in its .NET framework. C Sharp is a high-level compiled language and runs only on Windows.
class Foo {
public int Value;
public static explicit operator Foo(int value) {
return new Foo(value);
}
}
Foo foo = (Foo)2;C Sharp is used for desktop applications on Windows operating systems, and also forms the basis of Microsoft's ASP.NET web development framework.
Visual Basic language
Visual Basic It's another language from Microsoft, developed in 1991. It's an event-driven language, meaning it's designed to respond to user events such as mouse clicks or key presses. Visual Basic is a high-level compiled language and its platform is Windows.
Private Sub Form_Load()
MsgBox "Hello, World!"
End SubExample Visual Basic code from Wikipedia
Visual Basic is used as an easy way to develop GUI programs for Windows, but it is ultimately limited and would not be considered a “serious” programming language.
Java language
Java It is a ubiquitous programming language designed for cross-platform compatibility. It was developed by Oracle Corporation and first appeared in 1995. Java is a high-level compiled language designed to run on virtually any operating system.
class HelloWorldApp {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World!");
}
}Java example code from Wikipedia
Java is seen throughout the programming world, from the web to desktop computers. These days, it's used to create Android applications. Java is also the featured language in most computer science courses, and as a result, many programmers have some experience with the language.
Objective-C language
Objective-C was derived , like C++ and C#, from the C language. It was developed by Apple in 1983 and is designed to be used in conjunction with the C++ framework. Cocoa Company-specific. Objective-C is a high-level compiled language that runs only on Apple operating systems.
- (int)method:(int)i {
return [self square_root:i];
}Example of Objective-C code from Wikipedia
It's no surprise that Objective-C is Apple's preferred programming language. It's used to create software for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS X.
Perl language
finally , Perl It is a web language developed by Larry Wall in 1987. It is a powerful and practical language originally designed for text processing. Perl has been called "the duct tape that holds the Internet together," a reference to its power and perceived ugliness.
Perl is a high-level interpreted language and has been widely used on the web.
while (<>) {
chomp;
if (s/$//) {
$_ .= <>;
redo unless eof();
}
}Example of Perl code from Perl.org
Perl was once a major web programming language, but modern technologies like Rails have tended to replace it in recent times. These days, Perl mostly does what it's always done best—text processing.
Top Programming Languages (Guide Summary)
So many programming languages to learn, but so little time, right? Fortunately, you don't need to learn all of these things to be a good programmer. Most programmers specialize in a few languages—often just one.
Probably the best programming language.
Although the world of computer programming is always changing, the languages we've discussed here are likely to stick around for a while. If you put the time and effort into learning any of these languages, you'll be better off not just this year but for years to come.
When you're just starting out, the best language to learn is the one you're most interested in. Choose the software development path that best fits your career goals and areas of interest. Here's a brief summary of some of the options we've discussed.
