Top 20 Programming Languages 2023
If your plans to advance your career or change careers completely require you to master a programming language, you might wonder which one to learn. After all, learning the language will take time and money, so you want to make the right choice.
When making your decision, you should bear several considerations in mind, like the difficulty level you’re willing to tackle, the programming language knowledge you already possess that meshes with your existing coding skills, or your reasons for learning a top programming language.
Whether you want to develop a mobile application, get certification for programming knowledge, or learn new skills, you need to know the correct programming language. Below, you’ll learn about the best programming languages in demand among employers in 2023. You’ll be briefed about the details of each language, its complexity, and how it is used.
Python
Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is known for its simplicity, readability, and versatility. It is easy to learn and is used in a wide range of applications, from web development and scientific computing to machine learning and data analysis. Python has a large and active community of developers, making it easy to find resources and support. It comes with a comprehensive standard library and is compatible with a wide range of operating systems. Python is dynamically typed and supports object-oriented programming, making it a powerful language for building complex applications. Overall, Python is a popular choice for developers of all levels due to its ease of use, flexibility, and abundance of libraries and frameworks.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is widely used for building interactive web applications. It is primarily used for client-side scripting to create dynamic web content, but can also be used for server-side scripting with the help of Node.js. JavaScript is supported by all major web browsers and has a large and active community of developers, making it easy to find resources and support. It supports object-oriented, functional, and procedural programming paradigms and has a wide range of built-in functions and methods for manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM) and creating animations and effects. Overall, JavaScript is a powerful language for building web applications that are responsive, interactive, and engaging.
Java
Java is a popular high-level programming language that is used for developing a wide range of applications, from desktop and mobile applications to web and enterprise applications. It is a robust, object-oriented language that is known for its portability, scalability, and security. Java code is compiled into bytecode that can be run on any platform with the help of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), making it a popular choice for cross-platform development. Java has a large and active community of developers, which means that there is a wealth of resources and support available. It also has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. Overall, Java is a versatile language that is used by developers of all levels for building powerful, reliable, and secure applications.
C++
C++ is a versatile, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing a wide range of applications, from operating systems and video games to enterprise applications and scientific computing. It is an extension of the C programming language and supports object-oriented programming, templates, and generics. C++ is known for its efficiency, speed, and memory management capabilities, which make it a popular choice for building performance-critical applications. It is also highly portable and can be used on a wide range of platforms. C++ has a large and active community of developers, which means that there is a wealth of resources and support available. Overall, C++ is a powerful language for building complex applications that require high performance and scalability.
C#
C#: C# is a modern, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing desktop and web applications, video games, and mobile apps. It is an object-oriented language that is part of the .NET framework and is known for its simplicity, readability, and ease of use. C# has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. It is also highly interoperable with other programming languages and has a large and active community of developers.
PHP
PHP is a popular server-side scripting language that is widely used for building dynamic web applications, such as e-commerce websites, content management systems, and social media platforms. It is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and ease of use, and has a large and active community of developers. PHP code is processed on the server side, which means that the output can be customized based on user input and other factors. PHP has a wide range of built-in functions and modules for tasks such as database access, file I/O, and networking, making it a powerful language for building complex web applications. Overall, PHP is a versatile language that is widely used by developers of all levels for building web applications that are fast, secure, and scalable.
Swift
Swift is a modern, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing native iOS, macOS, and watchOS applications. It was developed by Apple and is known for its simplicity, safety, and speed. Swift supports object-oriented, functional, and procedural programming paradigms and has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. It is also highly interoperable with Objective-C and has a large and active community of developers. Overall, Swift is a powerful language for building fast, secure, and reliable applications for the Apple ecosystem.
TypeScript
TypeScript is a modern, high-level programming language that is a superset of JavaScript. It was developed by Microsoft and is widely used for building large-scale web applications. TypeScript supports static typing, which means that errors can be caught at compile-time instead of run-time, improving the reliability and maintainability of the code. It also supports object-oriented and functional programming paradigms and has a wide range of built-in functions and modules for manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM) and creating animations and effects. TypeScript is highly interoperable with JavaScript and has a large and active community of developers, making it easy to find resources and support. Overall, TypeScript is a powerful language for building scalable and maintainable web applications.
Kotlin
Kotlin is a modern, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing Android applications, web applications, and server-side applications. It was developed by JetBrains and is designed to be more concise, safe, and expressive than Java, the traditional language used for Android development. Kotlin supports object-oriented and functional programming paradigms and has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. It is interoperable with Java and has a large and growing community of developers. Kotlin is known for its readability, ease of use, and compatibility with existing Java code, making it a popular choice for Android developers looking to improve their productivity and code quality. Overall, Kotlin is a versatile language that is used by developers of all levels for building reliable, efficient, and scalable applications.
Go
Go, also known as Golang, is a modern, open-source programming language that is widely used for developing scalable, high-performance applications. It was developed by Google and is designed to be simple, efficient, and fast. Go supports concurrent programming, which allows multiple processes to run simultaneously, making it a popular choice for building network and server applications. Go has a simple syntax and a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. It is also highly interoperable with other programming languages and has a large and growing community of developers. Overall, Go is a powerful language for building efficient and reliable applications that can handle large-scale traffic and data processing.
Ruby
Ruby is a modern, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing web applications, such as e-commerce sites, social media platforms, and content management systems. It is known for its simplicity, readability, and expressiveness, and has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. Ruby supports object-oriented, functional, and procedural programming paradigms, and has a clean syntax that is easy to learn and use. It is also highly interoperable with other programming languages and has a large and active community of developers. Overall, Ruby is a versatile language that is widely used by developers of all levels for building web applications that are fast, secure, and scalable.
Objective-C
Objective-C is a high-level, object-oriented programming language that is widely used for developing applications for the Apple ecosystem, such as macOS and iOS. It is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and dynamic nature, and has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. Objective-C supports object-oriented and procedural programming paradigms and is highly interoperable with C and C++. It has a syntax that is similar to Smalltalk and is known for its message-passing model, which enables objects to communicate with one another. Objective-C has a large and active community of developers and is still widely used, although it has been largely superseded by Swift in recent years. Overall, Objective-C is a powerful language for building robust and scalable applications for the Apple ecosystem.
SQL
SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a domain-specific programming language that is widely used for managing and manipulating data in relational databases. It is used for tasks such as creating, reading, updating, and deleting data, as well as for querying and analyzing data. SQL has a simple and intuitive syntax that is easy to learn and use, and has a wide range of built-in functions and operators for working with data. It is highly interoperable with other programming languages and has a large and active community of developers. SQL is used by data analysts, database administrators, and developers of all levels to manage and manipulate data, and is an essential skill for anyone working with relational databases.
Dart
Dart is a modern, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing web and mobile applications, as well as for server-side development. It is developed by Google and is designed to be easy to learn, fast, and scalable. Dart supports object-oriented and functional programming paradigms and has a comprehensive standard library that includes modules for tasks such as file I/O, networking, and database access. It is also highly interoperable with other programming languages and has a growing community of developers. Dart is known for its simplicity, productivity, and compatibility with multiple platforms, making it a popular choice for developing cross-platform applications. Overall, Dart is a versatile language that is used by developers of all levels for building efficient, reliable, and scalable
R
R is a high-level programming language that is widely used for statistical computing, data analysis, and graphics. It is an open-source language that has a comprehensive library of built-in functions and packages for tasks such as data manipulation, visualization, and modeling. R is known for its ease of use and flexibility, and has a syntax that is similar to natural language, making it accessible to users of all levels. It is also highly interoperable with other programming languages and has a large and active community of developers. R is used by data scientists, statisticians, and researchers of all kinds to explore and analyze data, and is an essential tool in fields such as finance, healthcare, and social sciences. Overall, R is a powerful language that is essential for anyone working with data.
MATLAB
MATLAB® is a programming platform designed specifically for engineers and scientists to analyze and design systems and products that transform our world. The heart of MATLAB is the MATLAB language, a matrix-based language allowing the most natural expression of computational mathematics.
Scala
Scala stands for Scalable Language. It is a multi-paradigm programming language. Scala language includes features of functional programming and object-oriented programming. It is a statically typed language. Its source code is compiled into bytecode and executed by Java virtual machine(JVM).
Rust
Rust is the term we use to describe red iron oxides produced when ferrous metals corrode. Rust is the common name for the chemicals that result when iron reacts with oxygen and water. “Rust” is poorly defined in chemistry, however — lots of chemicals can be formed when iron is left exposed.
Lua
While every language has its complexities, Lua is one of the easier-to-learn languages and is excellent for beginners interested in image processing or game development. Many of the courses listed above are designed for beginners and have students creating their first game in no time.
Perl
Perl is a family of script programming languages that is similar in syntax to the C language. It is an older, open source, general use, interpreted language. Perl was developed with usability in mind. Its efficient design lets developers do a lot with a little bit of code.
