Anyone who decides to master the basics of the process of creating computer programs is wondering which are the most popular programming languages today and which ones are best studied. And if it is very easy to answer the first question, then the student will have to look for the answer to the second one based on his plans and needs.
Let's briefly review the most popular programming languages so that you can choose the most attractive to you and begin to study it.
What is a programming language ?
Before disassembling the main programming languages and describing them, it is necessary to parse the concept itself.
A programming language is a formal sign system that is used to write computer programs. Like any other language, it has its own lexical, semantic and syntactic rules.
Highlight languages of low and high levels of programming. To date, they use mostly the second.
High and Low Level Programming Languages
The low-level programming language has a structure close to that of machine code. In this case, the commands are not indicated with zeros and ones, but with the help of mnemonic symbols. The most famous low programming language is assembly language.
Working with any of the languages requires high qualifications, an understanding of the structure of the microprocessor, in addition, writing programs takes considerable time. At the same time, with the help of low ones, you can create small, but at the same time effective programs. Novice programmers are not recommended to begin their acquaintance with them.
High-level programming languages are characterized by the presence of semantic constructs for describing operations. Their study takes a lot of time, and practical application requires attention and understanding of the basic structures and rules of syntax and vocabulary. But at the same time, proficiency in high-level languages allows you to create large, colorful, multifunctional projects in record time.
The high level includes Pascal, Java, C, C ++, C #, Delphi and many others. They are used to write software and applications.
The most popular programming languages
What are the most popular programming languages today?
In recent years, Java, C, C ++, Python, C #, which are among the tops of programming languages, are considered the most popular and in demand. They are the basis of modern programs and are used when writing any major project. More than 70% of programmers work with these languages. It is predicted that in the next 10 years they will still be in demand as they are today.
No less popular are Ruby, PHP, and JavaScript. Most experts focus on them.
In general, regardless of popularity, any specialist who is more or less self-respecting must know at least several languages of different levels. This is due to the fact that most large projects are developed in different languages. For example, some modules are written using C, others are developed in Java, and others in Delphi at all.
C, C ++ and C #
First, consider the C family.
The C language is compiled and statically typed. It was developed in the 70s. Based on it, languages such as C ++ and C #, Java were later created.
C ++ is a powerful language designed to create both low-level utilities and drivers, and very impressive applications and software complexes.
C # is a modern object-oriented language based on C and C ++. Has a secure type system. One of its distinguishing features is that it is also very similar to another popular programming language - Java.
One of the disadvantages of the language is that it allows you to create applications only for the Windows operating system, and in addition, it is very heavyweight, which means that programs written in it take up a lot of space.
It can be noted that in many ways C, C ++ and C # are programming languages for beginners. Having mastered them, you can be sure that learning a new language will take a minimum of time.
You can get acquainted with them and write your first applications in a special environment of Borland or Visual Studio.
Javascript
JavaScript is an object-oriented language. Designed in 1996 and today one of the most popular. The language is mainly used when creating scripts on the Internet and works in major browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera. It is also closely associated with HTML and CSS, so before you begin to study it, you must master the basics of these languages.
It is worth noting that, despite the similarity in the name, JavaScript and Java are two completely different languages.
This language is suitable for those who are focused on creating browsers and scripts, applications and add-ons to them. If you plan to create your own sites, you also need to get to know him better.
Java
Considering the most popular programming languages, one cannot but mention Java. This is an objectively-oriented programming language that has come into use since 1995. It is very lightweight and runs on any Java machine of any architecture. It is used to develop applications for Android and iOS.
Python
Python is a high-level programming language whose main task is to increase developer productivity and make code more readable. It has a short list of syntactic constructions and a very impressive standard library of functions. The development of the language began back in the 90s and continues to this day. It is used to develop various projects, extensions and integrate previously developed applications.
The basics of the Python language can be studied both as a start for programming, and as a second additional language.
Ruby
Ruby is a high-level programming language that contains parts of Perl, Smalltalk, Eiffel, Ada, and Lisp. Used since 1995. The main advantages of the language are its simplicity and flexibility. Suitable for writing small applications, as well as for developing serious programs.
PHP language
PHP is a fairly popular scripting language designed to create web applications. Quite often, it is also included in the list of "Programming Languages for Beginners" and recommended for study.
With it, you can create high-quality web-applications in a very short time. The language has a simple and understandable structure, which allows you to learn it in a matter of days.
Conclusion
We have examined the most popular programming languages, the study of which will help you in the future to successfully create your projects and earn money as a programmer. There is no consensus on which language to learn, but at the same time, experts note that it is desirable to know several programming languages, as this will further expand the field of activity and facilitate the work on various team projects.