In this tutorial, we will discuss the most popular programming languages in 2021. As time goes on, the old programming languages become outdated. Likewise, new programming languages launched, but they never gain traction.
One question arises when a beginner is going to start programming. The question is, what programming language should I start? Or in which programming language I should invest my time? Which one will be good for my learning and my career development?
Here we will answer your questions. We will tell you about the details of the top most popular programming languages in 2021. In particular, we will see their pros and cons, features, area of usage, applications, level of difficulty, and so on. These details will clear you to choose a programming language according to field of study.
Table of Contents
Most Popular Languages
1. Python
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, and high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. We can use Python on the server to create web applications. This language can connect to database systems, and also it can read and modify files. Using Python language, we can handle big data and perform complex mathematics. The programmer can use it for rapid prototyping or production-ready software development as well.
Why choose Python?
Because it works on different platforms like (Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, etc.) The syntax of Python is simple, similar to the English language. In Python, we don’t need to write many code lines like in other programming languages. Its syntax is simple and allows to write fewer lines of code.
Pros: Supports multiple systems and platforms, Object-Oriented Programming driven, improves programmer’s productivity, and extensive support libraries.
Cons: Not ideal for mobile computing, and its database access layer is a bit underdeveloped and primitive.
Applications: Web and Internet development, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Scientific and numeric applications, Desktop GUIs, and Business applications.
Level of difficulty: Easy
2. Javascript
JavaScript is an open-source and client-side scripting language mainly used for web development. Its source code will be proceeding by the client web browser instead of on the webserver. It means JavaScript functions run after the web page loaded without communicating with the server. For example, a JavaScript function may check a web form before submitting it. That is to ensure that the user filled all the fields, or all fields contain valid data. It will show an error before transmitting the information to the server.
Pros: Because it is client-side, it is very fast, easy to understand, a massive variety of applications.
Cons: Multiple inheritances are not allowed, copy and similar methods are not available, and interpreted differently on different browsers.
Applications: Web and mobile application development, game development, and desktop app development.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
3. Java
Java is the most common and most in-demand programming language today. Oracle Corporation owns it, and it is a class-based, object-oriented programming language. Java is a widely-used programming language design to use in distributed internet environments. This programming language initially designed for developing programs for set-top boxes and embedded network applications. But, later, it becomes a popular choice for creating web applications.
Pros: Object-oriented, offers APIs for database connection, networking, XML parsing, utilities, etc. Open source, a large number of open-source libraries.
Cons: Expensive memory management and the absence of templates can limit a developer from creating high-quality data structures.
Applications: Android Apps, web applications, and big data.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
4. R
R is an open-source programming language and a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. Statisticians and data miners widely use the R programming language for developing statistical software and data analysis. This language is a GNU project same as the S language. John Chambers and colleagues developed this environment at Bell Laboratories. The applications built in the R language used for processing statistics, including linear and nonlinear modeling, testing, calculation, visualization, and analysis. Applications coded using R can interface with several databases and process both structured and unstructured data.
Pros: A comprehensive statistical analysis language that encourages a programmer to develop new ideas, easy to code, open-source, suitable for GNU/Linux and windows. Moreover, it is a cross-platform means it can run on different operating systems.
Cons: The quality of some packages is not up to the mark, and it does not have the best memory management. It may consume all available memory.
Applications: Android Apps, web applications, and big data.
Level of Difficulty: Hard
5. Swift
Swift is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm, and compiled programming language. This programming language initially released in 2014 and developed by Apple Inc. and the open-source community. Swift is a powerful and intuitive programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and beyond. Writing code in Swift is interactive, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and it contains modern features. A programmer can use this programming language with IBM Swift Sandbox and IBM Bluemix.
Pros: Similar to the English language so it is easy to understand, high-level, short lines of code, automatic memory management, and easy to add new features.
Cons: Unstable, and the pool of Swift developers is limited.
Applications: The Swift programming language works with Apple’s Cocoa and Cocoa Touch Frameworks to create all types of iOS apps.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
6. C++
C++ is a cross-platform programming language and developed by Bjarne Stroustrup. This language is an extension of the C programming language and is used to create high-performance applications. It gives a high level of control over system resources and memory to programmers. An object-oriented programming language that offers a clear structure to programs allows code to be reused and lowering development cost.
Pros: Many compilers and libraries, and has no garbage collector running in the background.
Cons: Complex syntax, small standard library, can’t support garbage collection or dynamic memory allocation.
Applications: The Swift programming language works with Apple’s Cocoa and Cocoa Touch Frameworks to create all types of iOS apps.
Level of Difficulty: Hard
7. C#
C# is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm and open source programming language. Microsoft developed the C# language by Anders Hejlsberg and the team. It covers static and strong typing, and it is lexically scoped, imperative, declarative, functional, generic. The C# programming language is object-oriented and components-oriented. This programming language enables developers to build many secure, and robust applications run in the dot NET ecosystem.
Pros: Easy integration with windows, fully integrated with dot NET library.
Cons: Allows pointers in unsafe blocks.
Applications: Enterprise Cross applications development and web applications.
Level of Difficulty: Hard
8. PHP
PHP is a general-purpose scripting programming language especially suited to web development. Danish-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf originally developed it in 1994. The PHP Group now produces the PHP reference implementation. It is an open-source and widely used programming language. The scripts execute over the server, and it is free to download and use. More than 80% of websites on the internet today are built by using PHP.
Pros: Simple, functional, and object-oriented automation tools are available for testing deploying.
Cons: Lacks debugging tool, not secure, and slower than other programming languages.
Applications: Web applications, content management systems, and eCommerce applications.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the most popular programming languages. We saw their functionalities and features, pros and cons, applications, level of difficulty, and so on. The information about the most popular programming languages provided above will help you to choose the language of choice.
