A List of the Top 10 Programming Languages: The No-Fluff Guide

15-Second Summary: We have curated this blog featuring a data-backed list of the 10 most popular and widely used programming languages where we have underlined the current stature, strengths, relevance, and use cases of each. In addition, we’ll go through the recent survey results, explain how rankings vary, and highlight some more languages that are worth mentioning.

The question we're dealing with is not only which programming languages to rank, but how to rank them. Should we focus on popularity? Search volume? Or market demand?

There are various surveys and rankings such as IEEE, PYPL, TOIBE, and Stack Overflow, but that only makes the task more confusing. Each study uses different metrics and methodologies; hence the rankings vary accordingly.

So, we came up with this solution to aggregate the input from the five most reliable sources and do some data analysis. Next, we evaluated all the coding languages based on their chart position and frequency. From that, we finalized the top 10 results and some more.

We'll go through each of those contenders in ascending order, justifying their position through merits, demerits, use cases, and more. Whether you want to learn a new language, are looking for the perfect tech stack, or just need some food for thought, we hope this write-up helps you make a prudent decision.

Off we go!

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Factors That Decide the Ranking of Programming Languages and How It Keeps Changing

There are multiple reasons why rankings shift all the time.

Java, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and C#/C++ have been exchanging their top positions in the last 15 years. Some languages, like Ruby, have their moment of fame but eventually lose the spotlight as newer options come along. At the same time, others, like Perl, stay consistently in the middle; never quite topping the charts but also never fully disappearing.

The first reason of all is the advancement of technology, of course. New tools, frameworks, and platforms come out, and languages that work better with them win the race. We've seen Python’s popularity shoot up as machine learning and AI grew. In the same way, JavaScript became a priority language for developers with the rise of web development tools.

Industry demand also plays a critical role here. Since mobile apps are now a must-have for businesses, languages like Swift and Kotlin gained popularity. Then comes job opportunities. Developers often favor languages that offer more job options. If companies are hiring heavily for a certain language, people will want to learn it, which bumps it up in the rankings.

Hence, it’s perfectly normal for today’s top coding languages to shift tomorrow. That is why it is incredibly important to remain flexible and keep an eye on the latest industry, market, and technology trends.

Latest Surveys and Reports on the Position of Programming Languages

So, what’s the current scenario? What are the most popular programming languages according to the most reputable sources out there?

We'll break it down with snapshots from five major indexes that use their own data and criteria for the ranking.

TIOBE

The ranking is based on how frequently languages are searched on major platforms like search engines and developer forums. In the 2024 index, Python is in the lead, followed by C++ and Java.

GitHub Octoverse

Python finally overtakes JavaScript (after 10 long years) as the most used programming language. TypeScript and Java take the third and fourth spots, respectively.

Additionally, in terms of fastest growth, Python, TypeScript, and Go are leading.

PYPL

Popularity of Programming Languages, which tracks popularity based on tutorial searches, also shows Python dominating at #1. Java, JavaScript, and C# are among the other leading contenders.

Stack Overflow

JavaScript, Python, and SQL are the most in-demand programming languages, but Rust remains the most beloved one. It has earned an 82/.2% admiration score in 2024.

IEEE

IEEE Spectrum reflects current demand and relevance by considering factors like job postings and GitHub activities. Python, Java, and JavaScript took the first three positions in 2024.

To sum it all up,

• Python leads across the board, especially for beginners and data-driven fields, while JavaScript holds strong in web development,
• Java, C, and TypeScript are also reliable choices, particularly for enterprise or lower-level applications,
• Rust and Go are also seeing rising popularity, primarily for system and cloud-based projects.

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Our Top Picks: The Ultimate Programming Languages List

Putting together a list of the best programming languages is anything but simple. Wikipedia claims that there are around 700 of them, although you can find a number of reports saying it’s over 8000.

So, we turned to the aggregated results, calculated the frequency count of each language, and narrowed down a compact list.

We'll now explain each in reverse order, from 10 down to 1, covering the most significant points and underscoring the key aspects that contributed to their respective ranking.

10. Rust

Rust has been ranked as the “most admired programming language” for the ninth consecutive year. Considering that it came out only 21 years ago, Rust has done an amazing job in winning the hearts of global developers.

The reason is that, as a systems language, it highly focuses on safety, speed, and performance. It’s designed to prevent common bugs, specifically related to memory management. Its popularity has surged among developer communities for its reliability and concurrency. In fact, there's an entire website dedicated to developers' admiration for Rust!

Notable Features

• Memory safety: No need for a garbage collector.
• High performance: Competes with C/C++ in speed.
• Safer multithreading: Concurrency without data races.
• Rich tooling: Easy development with Cargo package manager.
• Great documentation: Excellent support and guides.

Best Use Cases

• Web development
• Data analysis
• AI/ML applications
• Automation projects
• Backend infrastructure

9. Go

As the editor of Stack Overflow put it, “Go is built for software engineering today.”

Google developed this high-performance coding language and perfectly optimized it for large-scale software projects, like the ones they handle. Despite that, it's incredibly easy to learn and understand. Developers who know a few languages can easily pick up this one in just a few days.

Go gained notable traction as more companies shifted to microservices, and needed a language that could handle concurrency effectively. Its simplicity and performance make it attractive for building cloud-based applications and complex system backends.

Notable Features

• Concurrency support: Built-in support for goroutines.
• Fast execution: Compiles to machine code for high performance.
• Simple syntax: Easy to read and write.
• Strong standard library: Extensive built-in tools.
• Memory safety: Avoids common memory leaks.

Best Use Cases

• Cloud services
• Microservices
• Server-side applications
• Networking tools
• Micro-controller programming

8. PHP

PHP is one of the originals; it laid the groundwork for backend processing and set the standard for many languages that came after. It might not be as flashy as its newer competitors, but it's still proven, reliable, and gets the job done for building dynamic web solutions.

That’s the reason it powers 75.6% of websites in the world, especially CMS. WordPress (used by 43% of all websites as of 2024), Drupal, and Joomla are some of them.

This scripting language also rose to fame because it’s exceptionally easy to use. No other language offers such an easy entry point for beginners to achieve visible results so quickly. PHP frameworks like Laravel and Symfony. even offer pre-built components and tools for faster, more efficient development.

Notable Features

• Embedded in HTML: Easy to use alongside web pages.
• Server-side execution: Powers backend processes.
• Wide hosting support: Works with almost any web server.
• Large ecosystem: Tons of frameworks and CMS options.
• Ease of use: Simple for beginners to pick up.

Best Use Cases

• Web development
• Content management systems
• Dynamic web pages
• eCommerce sites
• Social networking platforms

7. SQL

Next on our list of the most liked programming languages is SQL - the go-to language for all things data. It's a must-have skill for anyone working with databases. According to DB-Engines, SQL-based relational database management systems (RDBMS) dominate the market. The vast majority of organizations use SQL-based systems like Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server (the top three).

SQL has always been crucial in data analytics solutions, but its importance grew as the demand for data-driven applications increased. From finance and healthcare to social media and advertising, businesses rely on SQL to manage and extract value from massive datasets.

Notable Features

• Declarative language: Easy to write and understand.
• Efficient data retrieval: Optimized for querying large datasets.
• Widely supported: Works with most database systems.
• Powerful functions: Supports aggregation and complex queries.
• Transaction control: Ensures optimal data integrity.

Best Use Cases

• Data management and retrieval
• Business intelligence tools
• Web apps with a database backend
• Data warehousing
• Transactional systems

6. TypeScript

TypeScript found widespread appeal for solving some of the major problems developers faced with the language it’s a superset of – JavaScript. By default, as well as with the enhanced features it introduces, TS makes it a lot easier to restrict, manage, and streamline many of JavaScript’s weird problems, such as technical debt and error creep in large codebase.

Hence, between JavaScript vs. Typescript, developers love the latter because it scales well. When projects grow and more people start working on the same code, features like clear type definitions, static type checking, and compile-time error detection become invaluable.

That’s one reason why big companies, such as Microsoft, Slack, and Airbnb, use this coding language. 90.6% of developers have used TypeScript and liked it, according to the 2024 State of Frontend report by TSH.

Notable Features

• Static typing: Catches errors during development.
• Compatibility with JavaScript: Works with existing JS code.
• Improved IDE support: Better autocompletion and navigation.
• Strong tooling: Supported by popular code editors like VS Code.
• Object-oriented: Supports classes and interfaces.

Best Use Cases

• Large-scale enterprise apps
• Real-time communication systems
• Collaborative platforms
• API-driven systems
• Task and project management tools

5. C#

Microsoft developed this general-purpose, object-oriented programming language in the early 2000s. It was a part of the .NET project designed to combine the best features of existing languages with added improvements that made coding more intuitive and safer.

Due to its strong backing by Microsoft and integration with the .NET ecosystem, C# made a name for itself. Its remarkable versatility allows developers to create a wide range of applications, including web apps with ASP.NET Core, desktop software, and game development through Unity.

One of the key moments for C# was when Windows became a dominant platform for both personal and enterprise use. Developers don't think twice before using it to build Windows-based systems. As it became the backbone of Microsoft’s flagship products, its reputation only increased.

Notable Features

• Object-oriented: Supports reusable code structures.
• Strong type system: Reduces runtime errors.
• Integrated with .NET: Works seamlessly with the .NET framework.
• Garbage collection: Automatically manages memory.
• Versatile: Great for web apps, desktop apps, and game development.

Best Use Cases

• Windows applications
• Enterprise software
• Game development
• Cloud-based apps (Azure)
• Desktop applications

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4. C/C++

C and C++ have been staples in the development world for decades, for good reasons. These are two of the most common coding languages known for their amazing speed and efficiency over the years.

As “low-level” languages compared to many others, they give developers more control over system resources, which justifies their usefulness in building high-performance apps like video games and real-time simulations.

In short, C is the backbone of many foundational tech systems, while C++ is appreciated for adding more features and flexibility. They struck a perfect balance between being powerful, efficient, and versatile, and they continue to be popular as they give developers the control they need for demanding applications.

Notable Features

• High performance: Used where speed is critical.
• Memory management: Offers manual control over memory.
• Versatile: Suitable for a wide range of applications.
• Extended functionality: Compatibility with C libraries:
• Object-oriented (C++): Supports classes and objects for structured code.

Best Use Cases

• Operating systems
• Game development
• Embedded systems
• Scientific computing
• Web browsers

3. Java

The third spot in our index is well-deserved by Java. If there’s one language that has managed to stay relevant through every trend and shift in software development, it’s this one.

Java has a unique edge in how it has bridged generations of technology. It started in the time of desktop and evolved beautifully to support cloud and mobile products. Important and prompt updates like modular programming in Java 17 (2017) and virtual thread in Java 19 (2022) make it modern while still feeling familiar.

Other impressive features include streams, Lambdas, and enhanced APIs that make it one of the most useful programming languages for Android app development. As of 2024, 60% of organizations are looking to expand their Java development teams, and 42% aim to increase their spending on Java development tools.

Notable Features

• Object-oriented: Helps in building modular programs.
• Platform-independent: Runs on any system with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
• Strong community support: Trusted for enterprise solutions.
• Robust security features: Essential for large, secure systems.
• Rich API: Extensive libraries for almost any task.

Best Use Cases

• Enterprise software
• Android apps
• backend systems
• Cloud computing and big data
• Embedded systems

2. JavaScript

JavaScript rightfully earns the second position in our index. No other language has had as profound an impact on web development as JS. It stands unparalleled in its versatility, i.e., it runs on both the client side and server side.

The real explosion in JavaScript’s popularity happened with the rise of its frameworks and libraries like AngularJS, React, and Vue.js. Developers now have an easier time building complex web applications, all because of these tools. For example, React has reusable components to quickly create large, interactive web interfaces. This is one of the main reasons JS became the go-to language for building modern web apps.

All these factors keep reinforcing its dominance in the job market, and consequently on survey reports too. On Indeed, job postings account related to JavaScript development for more than 50% of all web development job opportunities.

Notable Features

• Versatile: Runs on both the client and server sides.
• Event-driven: Perfect for interactive web experiences.
• Huge ecosystem: Tons of libraries and frameworks.
• Asynchronous programming: Supports promises and async/await.
• First-class functions: Functions pass as arguments to other functions.

Best Use Cases

• Full-stack web products
• Mobile apps
• Desktop apps
• Automation and scripting
• Data visualization

1. Python

It looks like the number one spot in our chart goes to Python - unsurprising, but still impressive!

Python's USP is its simplicity. Its syntax looks like regular English, so developers are able to do more with less. According to JetBrains (the maker of the PyCharm IDE), Python’s concise syntax and fewer lines of code help developers code about 3 to 5 times faster than more traditional, verbose languages like C++ or Java.

Versatility also plays a huge role in its prominence. You can use Python for web development, data science, machine learning, automation, and more. It’s the top pick for artificial intelligence and data science projects because of powerful libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and TensorFlow.

As such, Python is all around us. It's at the heart of many websites, systems, and digital tools people rely on daily. To take it up a notch, Python powers the data analysis behind NASA's James Webb Space Telescope; makes it one of the rarest languages used in projects of such magnitude.

Notable Features

• Readable syntax: Looks almost like English, making it easy to learn.
• Versatile libraries: Thousands of modules for various tasks.
• Cross-platform compatibility: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Community support: One of the largest programming communities.
• Integration: Can be used with other languages like C and Java.

Best Use Cases

• Web development
• Data analysis
• AI and machine learning
• Automation scripts
• Backend development.

All things said, the top 10 programming languages that made it into our list are:

• Python
• JavaScript
• Java
• C/C++
• C#
• TypeScript
• SQL
• PHP
• Go
• Rust

Note that the leading programming languages of today may not maintain their position in the coming days, as we mentioned before, Hence, with new surveys coming out and trends changing, we’ll keep updating this blog and the rankings for better relevance.

A Few More Programming Languages That Deserve a Mention

Only looking at the top 10 languages can sometimes miss the bigger picture. There are many others as well that play important roles in niche areas or are steadily growing in popularity.

These might not grab the headlines or appear at the very top of the charts, but they’re still valuable to know about for specific projects, specialized tasks, or up-and-coming tech trends.

So, here are 10 more programming languages (in no specific order) that deserve some attention and why they’re worth knowing about:

• Ruby - Known for its simplicity and readable syntax, great for creating web applications.
• Kotlin - Preferred choice for Android development, officially supported by Google.
• Swift - Fast, secure, and designed to work with iOS, macOS, and other Apple platforms.
• Perl - Versatile and good at handling text processing and tasks like data extraction.
• R - A must-know for data visualization and complex data calculations.
• MATLAB - Highly used for tasks involving matrices, algorithms, and complex math.
• Shell - Essential for system administration and automating tasks in Unix/Linux environments.
• Dart - Easy learning curve and fast performance for building cross-platform apps.
• Objective-C - Used primarily for its dynamic runtime and integration with Apple's frameworks.
• Groovy - A dynamic language for the Java platform, often used for scripting and testing.

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Takeaways to Reflect onFinding a list of the top/best/top/popular/most used coding languages is easy. What is not easy is deciding which one(s) to pick for you.Time changes fast and new languages show up all the time, most don’t stick around long enough to make a real impact. The languages that do stand the test of time usually have a solid history, lots of community support, and proven reliability.Our advice is to choose a language that matches how you like to solve problems and fits with your workflow. At the same time, follow your interests - work with a language that excites you, one that makes a perfect balance between practicality and passion.If that choice isn’t obvious right now, don’t worry. As a highly accomplished software development team endorsed by 98% of CTOs, we can show you the way around. We've worked on 4200+ multidimensional projects for over 3000 global clients, meaning we’ve tried our hands on practically all the programming languages mentioned above and then some.Start by saying hi!