Are you thinking about getting into programming but not sure where to begin? With technology always changing, picking the right programming language can seem overwhelming.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the most popular programming languages to learn across various categories in 2024. Whether you’re diving into frontend development, backend systems, mobile app development, game development, system programming, or exploring the AI and machine learning, choosing the right language is crucial to kickstart your journey into programming. So, let’s explore the top languages in each category to help you make correct decision on your programming journey with confidence.
Before we start, please consider reading these FAQ for better understanding.
Why is learning programming important?
Learning programming is important for problem-solving, creativity, and job opportunities in technology, finance, healthcare fields and many more
Why should I learn a new programming language?
Learning a new programming language can help you acquire new skills. It can also make you more adaptable when working on projects. Additionally, it can open more job opportunities in the tech industry.
Why do we need programming languages?
Programming languages are essential as they allow us to communicate instructions to computers, enabling them to perform tasks efficiently. They form the foundation of software development, making technology accessible and functional for users worldwide.
Why did you want to learn coding?
Learning coding offers the chance to create, innovate, and solve problems. Coding allows people to create websites, apps, and analyze data. It helps turn ideas into reality and shape the digital world.
What is DSA and should we learn it?
DSA stands for Data Structures and Algorithms. The study involves organizing and storing data efficiently and designing algorithms to solve real-world problems. Learning DSA is beneficial because it enhances problem-solving skills and algorithmic thinking. Also crucial for technical interviews in the software industry. DSA is a valuable skill for anyone interested in programming or computer science.
Best Programming Languages for Different Career Goals
With more than 9000 programming languages out there, it can be tough to pick the right one. Your choice should match your skills, career plans, and what companies are using. Here are the top best programming languages for various software development categories to learn in 2024, where some are easy to learn and some are more challenging:
Table of Contents
Best Programming Languages for Frontend Development
Frontend development involves creating the user interface and experience of a website or web application. This includes designing and implementing the layout, structure, and interactive elements that users interact with directly in their web browsers.
Some of the top/best popular programming languages used for Frontend Technologies are JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Typescript.
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| JavaScript | The language of the web, used for adding interactivity to websites. |
| HTML/CSS | Not programming languages but markup and styling languages, essential for structuring and styling web pages. |
| TypeScript | A superset of JavaScript, adding optional static typing and other features for larger projects. |
| React.js | A JavaScript library for building user interfaces, developed by Facebook. |
| Vue.js | A progressive JavaScript framework for building UIs, known for its simplicity and versatility. |
| Angular | A comprehensive JavaScript framework for building web and mobile applications, maintained by Google. |
| Svelte | A modern JavaScript framework that compiles components at build time for highly optimized code. |
| Bootstrap | A popular CSS framework for building responsive and mobile-first websites. |
| Sass | A CSS preprocessor that adds features like variables, nesting, and mixins to enhance styling capabilities. |
| jQuery | A fast and feature-rich JavaScript library for simplifying DOM manipulation and event handling. |
Best Programming Languages for Backend Development
Backend development focuses on the server side applications and functionality of web applications. It involves writing code that runs on the server and handles tasks such as processing requests from clients, interacting with databases, and managing user authentication.
Some of the top/best popular programming languages used for Backend Technologies are JavaScript, Python, Java, Ruby, PHP, Go, C#, Kotlin, Scala, Rust.
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| JavaScript (Node.js) | Server-side JavaScript runtime environment, allowing for building scalable network applications. |
| Python (Django, Flask) | Python web frameworks known for their simplicity, versatility, and robustness. |
| Java (Spring Boot) | A powerful and widely-used backend language with the Spring Boot framework for rapid development. |
| Ruby (Ruby on Rails) | Ruby-based web framework known for its convention over configuration and developer-friendly approach. |
| PHP (Laravel) | A server-side scripting language commonly used for web development, with the Laravel framework for building elegant web applications. |
| Go (GoLang) | A statically typed, compiled language designed for simplicity and efficiency in building scalable and reliable software. |
| C# (ASP.NET) | A versatile language, primarily used in conjunction with the ASP.NET framework for building web applications and services. |
| Kotlin (Ktor) | A modern language for the JVM, often used with Ktor for building asynchronous and concurrent backend applications. |
| Scala (Play Framework) | A scalable language for backend development, with the Play Framework for building reactive web applications. |
| Rust (Rocket) | A systems programming language known for its memory safety and performance, often used with the Rocket framework for building fast and secure web servers. |
Best Programming Languages for Mobile App Development
Mobile app development involves creating applications specifically designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This includes developing both the frontend user interface and the backend logic necessary to power the app’s functionality.
Some of the top/best popular programming languages used for Mobile App Development are Swift, Kotlin, Java, Dart, Python, Lua, Objective-C, C#, JavaScript.
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Swift (iOS) | Apple’s programming language for iOS, known for its safety, speed, and modern syntax. |
| Kotlin (Android) | Google’s preferred language for Android development, offering conciseness, safety, and interoperability with Java. |
| JavaScript (React Native) | A framework for building mobile apps using JavaScript and React, allowing for cross-platform development. |
| Dart (Flutter) | Google’s UI toolkit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. |
| Java (Android) | Traditionally used for Android app development, offering stability, performance, and a large ecosystem of libraries. |
| C# (Xamarin) | Microsoft’s framework for building cross-platform mobile apps using C# and .NET, with native performance and user experiences. |
| Objective-C (iOS) | Apple’s legacy language for iOS development, still used in some existing projects alongside Swift. |
| Python (Kivy) | A Python library for developing multitouch applications, enabling rapid development across various platforms. |
| HTML/CSS/JavaScript (Ionic) | A framework for building hybrid mobile apps using web technologies, with a focus on performance and native-style UI components. |
| Lua (Corona SDK) | A lightweight scripting language often used with the Corona SDK for developing 2D mobile games and apps. |
Best Programming Languages for Game Development
Game development is the process of creating video games for various platforms such as consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. It involves designing game mechanics, creating visual assets, implementing gameplay features, and optimizing performance for a smooth gaming experience.
Some of the top/best popular programming languages used for Game Development are C/C++, C#, Python, Javascript, Java, Lua, Typescript, GDScript, Haxe, UnrealScript.
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| C++ | A powerful and widely-used language for game development, known for its performance and control over hardware. |
| C# (Unity) | A versatile language used with Unity, a popular game engine known for its ease of use and cross-platform capabilities. |
| JavaScript (Unity) | A scripting language used with Unity for developing games, offering flexibility and accessibility. |
| Python (Pygame) | A set of Python modules designed for writing video games, providing simplicity and ease of learning. |
| Java (LibGDX) | A cross-platform Java game development framework known for its high performance and scalability. |
| Lua (Love2D) | A lightweight scripting language often used with the Love2D framework for developing 2D games. |
| TypeScript (Phaser) | A JavaScript framework for building HTML5 games, offering a modern development experience and performance optimizations. |
| UnrealScript (Unreal Engine) | A scripting language for the Unreal Engine, providing a high-level interface for game development. |
| Haxe (HaxeFlixel) | A multi-platform framework based on Haxe for creating 2D games, offering fast compilation and cross-platform support. |
| GDScript (Godot Engine) | A scripting language specifically designed for the Godot game engine, offering simplicity and ease of use for game development. |
Best Programming Languages for System Programming
System programming involves writing code that interacts closely with the hardware and low-level system resources of a computer or device. This includes tasks such as device drivers, operating system development, and optimization of system-level software for performance and reliability.
Some of the top/best popular programming languages used for System Programming are C/C++, Rust, Golang, Rust, Java, Swift, Python, D, Ada, Assembly.
| Language | Description |
|---|---|
| C | A low-level language commonly used for system programming due to its efficiency and direct access to hardware. |
| C++ | An extension of C with added features like object-oriented programming, widely used for system-level and performance-critical applications. |
| Rust | A systems programming language focused on safety, concurrency, and performance, suitable for building reliable and efficient software. |
| Go | A statically typed, compiled language designed for simplicity and efficiency, often used for system programming and cloud infrastructure. |
| Java | Although primarily known for enterprise applications, Java is also used for system programming, especially in large-scale distributed systems. |
| Python | While not as low-level as C or C++, Python is still used for system programming tasks that prioritize developer productivity and ease of use. |
| Swift | Apple’s modern programming language, suitable for system programming tasks on macOS and iOS platforms. |
| D | A systems programming language with a focus on performance, safety, and productivity, often used in areas like game development and operating systems. |
| Assembly Language | Although not a high-level language, assembly is used for system programming tasks that require fine-grained control over hardware resources. |
| Ada | A structured, statically typed language designed for large-scale systems programming, particularly in safety-critical applications like aerospace and defense. |
Best Programming Languages for AI/Machine Learning
AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning involve creating algorithms and models that enable computers to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. This includes tasks such as image recognition, natural language processing, and predictive analytics.
Some of the top/best popular programming languages used for Artificial Intelligence Development are Python, R, Java, Scala, Lisp, Matlab, C++.
| Language | Description |
|---|---|
| Python (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn) | Python’s simplicity and extensive libraries make it the primary choice for AI and machine learning, with TensorFlow and PyTorch being widely used deep learning frameworks. |
| R | A programming language and environment for statistical computing and graphics, commonly used in academia and research for data analysis and visualization. |
| Java (Weka) | Java-based machine learning library with a collection of algorithms for data mining tasks. |
| Julia | A high-level, high-performance programming language for technical computing, known for its speed and ease of use in numerical and scientific computing. |
| Scala (Apache Spark) | Scala’s compatibility with Java and the Apache Spark framework make it a preferred language for large-scale data processing and analytics. |
| Lisp | A family of programming languages known for their expressiveness and flexibility, used in AI research and development. |
| Prolog | A logic programming language used for symbolic and non-numeric computation, particularly in expert systems and natural language processing. |
| MATLAB | A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and algorithm development, widely used in engineering and scientific research. |
| JavaScript (TensorFlow.js) | Bringing machine learning to the web, TensorFlow.js allows for training and deploying models directly in the browser using JavaScript. |
| C++ (TensorFlow C++) | TensorFlow’s C++ API provides high performance and low-level control, making it suitable for integrating machine learning models into production systems and applications. |
Conclusion
In 2024, there are great opportunities for new programmers in different areas of tech. Whether you’re into making websites, building the behind-the-scenes backend stuff, creating mobile phone apps, designing games, working on computer systems, or exploring artificial intelligence, there’s a language for you.
If you’re interested in making websites, check out JavaScript, HTML/CSS, or TypeScript. For the backend development, look into JavaScript (Node.js), Python (Django, Flask), or Java (Spring Boot). If you want to make mobile apps, Swift (for iPhones) or Kotlin (for Androids) are good choices. There are also JavaScript (React Native) and Dart (Flutter) for making apps that work on both kinds of phones.
For making games, C++ is a big one, but C#, JavaScript (with Unity), and Python (with Pygame) are also good options. C, C++, and Rust are good choices if you want to know the ins and outs of computer systems. Go and Java can also be used to build large-scale computer systems and work on the internet.
And if you’re curious about artificial intelligence, Python is the main language to learn, especially with libraries like TensorFlow and PyTorch. But there are also other languages like R, Java (with Weka), and Julia that are used for working with data and numbers.
In the end, the best language for you is the one you’re most interested in. So, explore these areas, find what you like, and start your programming journey!
Check out Cheatsheet Page for All Programming Language Cheatsheets.
