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With 700 programming languages out there, it can be difficult for aspiring coders to choose a single language for starting a career in IT. Since the popularity & demand of each programming language keeps fluctuating where new languages dethrone the old ones, it leaves coders with a dilemma of which language they should learn. If you’re also confused about choosing a programming language, let’s help you make a firm decision. We’re comparing top 5 programming languages in popularity, job market, benefits, key features, & usage.
Top 5 Programming Languages to Learn in 2024
As per the latest survey of the PPYL Index, Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, and PHP are the top 5 programming languages to learn that have the maximum number of searches on Google. Here is how learning these languages can be beneficial for your career:
1. Python
Designed in 1991 by Guido van Rossum as his subsidiary project, nobody anticipated that Python would top the list of the world’s most popular and commonly used programming languages. It is beginner-friendly & easy to learn the language with higher readability.
Popularity:
In the last 5 years, Python has grown tremendously with no sign of declining. It is an extremely reliable and secure language, so many tech giants like Amazon, Google, Instagram, Facebook, & Uber use Python libraries.
To determine the popularity of Python, GitHub has compared it with other programming languages based on their share of tutorial searches on Google, as depicted in the chart below, where Python has the largest share of 27.99% of all tutorial searches. Due to such immense popularity of Python, many young aspirants enroll in Python Bootcamp to learn this lucrative programming language to enlarge their career prospects.
Key Features:
Python has peculiar features that help it stand out in the competitive sphere of programming, such as cross-platform compatibility, easy integration, high-portability, free-to-use, Graphic User Interface programming, dynamically typed, embeddable, etc.
Usage:
As a multi-purpose programming language, Python is used to develop different projects such as system scripting, web frameworks, Big Data, Machine Learning applications, software development, enterprise applications, video games, GUI, computational, & scientific applications.
Job Market:
If you do a quick search for Python Jobs in the United States on LinkedIn, you will get a whopping result of 325000+ job openings. It showcases a massive demand for Python professionals in the job market. The salary of a Python Developer ranges from $67,263 to $223,687 per year, much more than that of developers of other programming languages.
Benefits:
Being the best programming language Python offers many benefits such as ease of creating classes & objects through Object-Oriented Programming for a multitude of platforms, scale complex applications, testing & building prototypes.
2. Java
All these years, a lot has been said about Java, like it outdated, slow, confusing, expensive, and even dead. However, Java refutes all these baseless assumptions by securing the second position in the list of top 5 programming languages. Originally designed for set-top boxes & interactive television, Java progressed to be a widely used server-side language for back-end development of Android applications, gaming consoles, etc.
Popularity:
TIOBE Index of the most popular programming languages has always rated Java in the first or second position since its inception in 1995. The popularity of Java can be measured by the fact that currently, it runs on 125 million TVs, 3 billion mobiles, & 1 billion computers.
Key Features:
Java is a versatile language best suited for anyone who wants to commence a coding career without any technical proficiency. Java is known for its dynamic features such as JVM, platform-independent, object-oriented, portable, simple, secure, high-performance, multithreaded, etc. To ace the core concepts of Java, one requires to join a Java Bootcamp.
Usage:
Java plays a vital part in the development of real-world applications. Java is everywhere, from e-commerce websites, net-banking applications, IoT to Big Data technologies, embedded space, J2ME & Android applications.
Job Market:
As per Indeed, Java is the second most in-demand programming language in America after C/C++. There are around 15000+ Java job postings as of November 2023 LinkedIn. Java developer salary is $ 117,800, the third-highest annual salary amongst developers and programmers.
Benefits:
There are numerous perks of using Java, such as the flexibility to create web & desktop-based applications. Java is platform-independent, which means once a developer writes codes, that code can run on any platform supporting Java runtime environment.
3. JavaScript
Back in 1995, JavaScript was created as a client-side scripting language to streamline the process of web development. It is a light-weighted, multi-paradigm, high-level programming language that runs virtually on mobile devices, browsers, containers, & micro-controllers. 95.2% of 1.52 billion websites use JavaScript, including YouTube and Facebook.
Popularity:
Due to the mass adoption of JavaScript, it has become a top programming language. JavaScript-based frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, Express, and Vue principally dominate the web development domain.
Key Features:
JavaScript has drastically evolved over the last few years. The latest release of JavaScript (ES11) has added various upgrading features like Optional Chaining Operator, BigInt, GlobalThis, MatchAll, Dynamic Imports, Promise.allSettled, Private Fields, Top Level Await, & Static Fields. It will further increase the usage & demand for JavaScript.
Usage:
JavaScript runs on nearly all platforms, websites, applications, web servers, mobile devices, games, smartwatches, robots, etc. It is mainly used for serverless computing, web/app development, and browser game development.
Job Market:
A survey of Stack Overflow says that JavaScript developers can earn average salaries even with less experience. The global demand for JavaScript developers outweighs the number of skilled resources in the market. One can leverage the opportunity to learn JavaScript and get a chance to earn more than $162,019 a year after gaining experience.
Benefits:
JavaScript is popular for its speed, simplicity, interoperability, and rich interfaces. It facilitates developers to build highly interactive applications that give instant feedback to users, & put less load on the server.
4. C#
Developed in 2000, C# is a modern hybrid of C & C++. It is the best programming language for developing games and Windows desktop applications. C# is relatively new in the programming world compared to long-established languages like Python & Java.
Popularity:
Despite being a new addition to the programming family, C# took no time to secure a position in the list of top programming languages. Soon after its formation, several techies identify C# as a powerful & flexible language. C# has the third-largest community on Stack Overflow, and it is used by 31% of developers daily.
Key Features:
C# has many rich features contributing to its worldwide popularity. Have a look at its key attributes:
Usage:
The general-purpose programming language of C# is used to build a diverse range of applications and programs. It mainly regulates three fields: web app development, games, & Windows applications.
Job Market:
C# has a thriving job market with more than 76000+ jobs on LinkedIn. Around 5000 job vacancies are advertised each month for C# developers with an average salary ranging between $101,333 and $124,611 per annum.
Benefits:
C# provides various advantages to programmers, such as it saves development time by providing reusable components & extensive memory bank. Also, C# offers easy-to-use features that help programmers write complex codes without much hustle. The programs written in C# remain consistent and can be adjusted easily.
5. PHP
PHP is a widely used server-side scripting language that automates routine tasks that would need to be executed individually by a person. It helps to build static or dynamic websites and web applications. PHP scripts are interpreted by a server.
Popularity:
Ranked fifth in the latest PPYL Index of top 5 programming languages to learn, PHP has proven its mettle.
Key Features:
Millions of websites use PHP due to its distinctive features. It is simple, flexible, & easy to learn the language. PHP is compatible with multiple platforms and uses third-party applications to secure data.
Usage:
PHP supports over 20 million online applications, websites, and Content Management Systems. Some of the most popular PHP-based sites are; Facebook, WordPress, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Joomla, and Digg.
Job Market:
Since January 2020, the number of job openings for entry-level PHP developers has increased by 834%. It has made PHP the fastest-growing tech job in the industry. PHP entry-level jobs can allow you to earn a decent salary of $67,549 per year.
Benefits:
PHP gives developers more control and lets them make code changes very easily. Another perk of PHP is that it is free of cost, so one doesn’t have to purchase expensive software and can build robust applications at a minimal cost.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, these top 5 programming languages are invincible and deserve to be on the top. Each language has its unique features, which makes them incomparable. While in terms of popularity, one can say that both Java & Python are leading the pack. They have the largest share in the tech market.
If you want to build a solid career in programming, you should learn any of these top programming languages without giving it a second thought. It will lead you to excellent career options and help you grow in the cutting-throat competition.
We have created a tech skill-enhancement program in which we provide training in the top two programming languages, i.e., Java & Python.
Anytime you want to upgrade your skills and need a helping hand to enter or reenter the tech workforce with high-demand tech skills, reach out to us. Since 2010 we have helped 1000’s of jobseekers succeed in the technology sector. SynergisticIT’s career-oriented training programs guarantee fast-paced, quality tech education, preparing you with top-notch skills for coveted tech roles in the industry. Reach out to us. SynergisticIT– Home of the Best Data Scientists and Software Programmers in the Bay Area!