Top 10 most popular programming languages in 2021

There are around 600 programming languages, and of course, the demand and popularity of programming languages fluctuate every year.

So, which programming language should you learn?

Learning a new programming language is always an investment of your time and brainpower. If you are a seasoned developer or already know several programming languages, you can learn a niche, modern one.

If you’re starting with this career, you’ll find that trying to break into the field of software programming can be a daunting experience, especially for professionals with no prior programming experience. Different roles require knowing different programming languages, and it’s often beneficial to know multiple languages.

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve made this list of top programming languages based on 2 main sources:

• The TIOBE Programming Community Index from April 2021, the index is updated once a month.

• Github’s "The 2020 State of the Octoverse".

The TIOBE Programming Community index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. Popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube and Baidu are used to calculate the ratings. It is important to note that the TIOBE index is not about the best programming language.

The index can be used to check whether your programming skills are still up to date or to make a strategic decision about what programming language should be adopted when starting to build a new software system.

As for Github, it has become a hub that 40 million developers use to collaborate and share code for their projects — personal, professional, and otherwise.

As one of the largest online gathering spots for developers, GitHub tracks what programming languages are most popular among developers by releasing an annual report called The State of the Octoverse that gives a valuable insight into which technologies developers are flocking to around the world.

Here are our top 10 programming languages:

1. Python

According to Northeastern University, there are 19,000 Python jobs posted on Indeed with an average annual salary of $120,000 making Python the most popular programming language out there.

Python is behind some of the most promising technologies today such as AI, machine learning, Big Data, and robotics.

Python was released in 1991 by Guido van Rossum as an interpreted programming language with an emphasis on readability. As an open-source language, it's been used on many projects with great success, such as Google.

Regardless of whether you use Python for scripting, data science, or web development, there are many built-in and third-party tools and libraries which will help you write efficient code. All the major platforms support Python and Macs even come with it pre-installed.

2. Javascript

Over 90% of the websites use this language and it is one of the friendliest programming languages for learners, to begin with.

While JavaScript is relatively easy to get started with, it is not straightforward to master.

One of the advantages of Javascript is that it can run everywhere, including devices like mobiles, tablets, and laptops and both the client-side and server.

This ability to run everywhere makes JavaScript a universal language.

JavaScript has been around for 25 years and has a vast community behind it. The community has built so many plugins and frameworks that the phrase "framework fatigue" was coined.

3. Java

According to TIOBE’s data, Java has secured the first and second positions more than any other language for about a couple of decades.

The major reasons behind the popularity of Java are its portability, scalability, and its large community of users.

In recent years, Java has lost some of its markets to highly developer-friendly modern languages and the rise of other languages, especially Python.

According to Indeed, Java is the second most demanding programming language in the USA, with 69 K Job posting in January 2020.

4. C

In 2000, Microsoft decided to create their Object-Oriented C-like programming language C# as part of their .NET initiative.

C# is built specifically for Microsoft .NET and is a combination of the best features of C and C++. It’s one of the best, if not the best option, for developing code for Windows systems.

C# offers shared codebases, a large code library, and a variety of data types. C# can have a steep learning curve, especially for resolving errors. It is less flexible than languages such as C++.

You can use C# to develop almost anything but it’s particularly strong in the case of Windows desktop applications and games development.

5. PHP

Software Engineer Rasmus Lerdorf has initially created PHP as a set of Common Gateway Interface binaries written in C to create dynamic Web Applications. Later, more functionalities were added to the PHP product, and it organically evolved into a fully-fledged programming language.

PHP is one of the older languages, with a large network of users who have produced frameworks and automation tools to make it easier to use. Despite fewer coders learning PHP than in previous years, businesses are still hiring PHP developers in large numbers.

6. C++

This object-oriented programming language was developed in the 1980s and is still found in numerous systems from desktop web apps to server infrastructure

Over time, programmers have written a large set of libraries and compilers for C++.

Like C, C++ has complex syntax and an abundance of features that can make it complicated for new programmers.

Indeed has ranked C++ as the 4th most demanding programming language.

7. Ruby

Japanese computer scientist Yukihiro Matsumoto created Ruby as an "Object-Oriented Scripting language" and released it in 1995.

Like Python, Ruby focused heavily on developer productivity and it is an excellent language for new developers for a flat learning curve.

In some countries, it is very difficult to find qualified professionals; for this reason, many companies outsource their software development. On the plus side, however, the Ruby programming language community is very active, which is best confirmed on GitHub.

8. C

Over the years, C became one of the most used programming languages and is arguably the most influential programming language in history.

As one of the first programming languages ever developed, C has served as the foundation for writing more modern languages such as Python, Ruby, and PHP. It is also an easy language to debug, test, and maintain.

It can work with nearly every system and is highly suitable for operating systems and embedded systems and is highly recommended for beginners since is easy to learn.

9. Swift

A group of Apple engineers led by Chris Lattner has developed a new programming language Swift mainly to replace Objective-C in the Mac and iOS platforms.

Swift has already established itself as the primary programming language in iOS App development and is gaining increasing popularity in other domains as well.

Like many modern programming languages, Swift has a highly readable syntax, runs code quickly, and can be used for both client-side and server-side development.

10. Typescript

TypeScript has been increasing in its popularity for the last couple of years.

TypeScript is an open-source project started by Microsoft to combine transpiling for advanced JavaScript features with static type checking and tooling.

By providing minimal checking syntax on top of JavaScript, TypeScript allows developers to type check their code, which can reveal bugs and generally improve the organization and documentation of large JavaScript codebases.