What is a programming language? 

A programming language is a way for programmers (developers) to communicate with computers. A programming language consists of a set of rules that allow the conversion of string values ​​into various ways of generating machine code, or in the case of visual programming languages, into graphical elements.

Generally speaking, a program is a set of instructions written in a specific language (C, C++, Java, Python) to accomplish a specific task.

What is the best programming language to learn in 2023?

The most popular programming languages ​​in 2023 are listed below.

1. Javascript2. Python3. Go4. Java5. Kotlin6. PHP7. C#8. Swift9. R10. Ruby11. C and C++12. Matlab13. TypeScript14. Scala15. SQL16. HTML17. CSS18. NoSQL19. Rust20. Perl

1. Javascript

JavaScript is a high-level programming language and one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web. 97.8% of websites use it as their client-side programming language. JavaScript was originally used only to develop web browsers, but now they are also used for server-side website deployment and non-web browser applications.

Javascript was created in 1995 and was originally called LiveScript. However, Java was a very popular language at the time, so it was billed as Java's "brother". Over time, JavaScript became an entirely separate language. JavaScript is often confused with Java these days, and while there are some similarities between them, the two languages ​​are quite different.

Javascript is the most popular programming language in the world and is in high demand in various organizations. The average annual income of a Java developer is approximately $112,152.

2. Python

Python is one of the most popular programming languages ​​today and is easy for beginners to learn due to its readability. It is a free and open-source programming language with extensive support modules and community development, easy integration with web services, user-friendly data structures, and GUI-based desktop applications. It is a popular programming language for machine learning and deep learning applications.

Python is used to develop 2D imaging and 3D animation packages such as Blender, Inkscape, and Autodesk. It was also used to create popular video games, including Civilization IV, Vegas Trike, and Toontown. Python is used in scientific and computing applications like FreeCAD and Abacus, and popular sites like YouTube, Quora, Pinterest, and Instagram. The average annual salary of a Python developer is approximately $109,092.

3. Go

Go was developed by Google in 2007 for use in APIs and web applications. Go has recently become one of the fastest growing programming languages ​​due to its simplicity and ability to handle multi-core and networked systems as well as large code bases.

Go, also known as Golang, was created to meet the needs of programmers working on large-scale projects. It is popular among many large IT companies due to its simple and modern structure and familiar syntax. Companies using Go as a programming language include Google, Uber, Twitch, Dropbox, and more. Go is also gaining popularity among data scientists due to its agility and performance.

Go developers earn an average annual salary of $141,654 and can make as much as $261,000.

4. Java

Java is one of the most popular programming languages ​​today.

Owned by Oracle Corporation, this general-purpose programming language with an object-oriented structure has become the standard for applications regardless of platform (e.g., Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, etc.) because of its Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) feature . As such, Java has been recognized for its portability across platforms, from mainframe data centers to smartphones. Today, there are more than 3 billion devices running applications built with Java.

Java is widely used in web and application development and big data. Java is also used in the backends of several popular websites, including Google, Amazon, Twitter, and YouTube. It is also widely used in hundreds of applications. New Java frameworks such as Spring, Struts, and Hibernate are also popular. There are millions of Java developers around the world, and there are hundreds of ways to learn Java. Also, Java programmers have a wide online community and support each other to solve problems.

Java is a more complex language to learn, but experienced developers with Java coding skills are in high demand. The average annual income of a Java developer is approximately $109,225.

5. Kotlin

Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language originally developed by JetBrains in 2011 and published as Project Kotlin. The first version was officially released in 2016. It is interoperable with Java and supports functional programming languages.

Kotlin is widely used for Android application, web application, desktop application and server-side application development. Kotlin was built to be better than Java, and people who use the language believe in it. Most Google applications are based on Kotlin. Some companies that use Kotlin as their programming language include Coursera, Pinterest, PostMates, etc.

Kotlin developers earn an average of $136,000 a year, with the potential to earn as much as $171,500.

6. PHP

PHP is an open source programming language created in 1990. Many web developers find it essential to learn PHP because the language is used to build more than 80% of the websites on the Internet, including such famous sites as Facebook and Yahoo.

Programmers primarily use PHP primarily to write server-side scripts. But developers can also use the language to write command-line scripts, and programmers with advanced PHP coding skills can use it to develop desktop applications.

For beginners, PHP is considered a relatively easy language to learn. PHP professionals have access to several dedicated online communities, making it easy to get support and answers to questions.

On average, PHP programmers earn an average annual salary of around $107,409.

7. C#

C#, developed by Microsoft, rose to prominence in the 2000s for supporting the concept of object-oriented programming. It is one of the most commonly used programming languages ​​for the .NET Framework. C#'s creator, Anders Hejlsberg, says the language is more like C++ than Java.

C# is best suited for applications on Windows, Android, and iOS because it requires the help of Microsoft Visual C++, an integrated development environment product. C# is used in the backends of several popular websites such as Bing, Dell, Visual Studio, and MarketWatch. C# developers earn approximately $111,760 per year.

8. Swift

A few years ago, Swift was in the top 10 of the monthly TIOBE Index ranking of popular programming languages. Apple developed Swift for Linux and Mac applications in 2014.

Swift is an easy-to-learn open source programming language that supports almost everything in the programming language Objective-C. Swift requires fewer coding skills than other programming languages ​​and can be used with IBM Swift Sandbox and IBM Bluemix. Swift is used in popular iOS apps like WordPress, Mozilla Firefox, SoundCloud, and even in the game Flappy Bird. Professionals who develop iOS apps earn an average annual salary of around $106,652.

9. R

R is an open source language that is essentially a different version of the S language. Most of the code developers write for S will run on R without modification.

Applications built with R are used to work with statistical data, including linear and nonlinear modeling, computation, testing, visualization, and analysis. Applications coded in R can interface with many databases and process structured and unstructured data.

R has a moderate learning curve and is not as accessible to beginners as some of the other languages ​​in this article. However, like other open source programming languages, R has an active online community of developers, which is always a plus when learning new coding skills.

On average, the average annual salary for an R developer is around $90,940.

10. Ruby

If you want to start with a language known for being relatively easy to learn, consider Ruby. It was developed in the 1990s to have a more human-friendly syntax, while still being flexible from the standpoint of an object-oriented architecture that supports procedural and functional programming notations. A web application framework implemented in Ruby is Ruby on Rails ("RoR"). Ruby developers tout it as an easy language to write and a relatively short learning curve. These features have resulted in a large community of Ruby developers, as well as a growing interest in the language among novice developers. The average annual salary for a Ruby developer is around $121,000.

11. C and C++

C is probably the oldest and most popular programming language, and is the root of other programming languages ​​such as C#, Java, and JavaScript. C++ is an enhanced version of C. Today, many developers skip learning C alone, while others believe that learning C first provides a valuable foundation for C++ development. Both languages ​​are widely used in computer science and programming.

Compilers for various platforms are available to C and C++ developers, making applications developed in these languages ​​largely portable. Both C and C++ are considered high-performance languages. As such, they are widely used to develop performance-critical applications such as client/server applications, commercial products such as Firefox and Adobe, and video games. C and C++ developers earn an average of $118,366 per year.

12. Matlab

Matlab is a proprietary programming language owned by MathWorks, originally released in the mid-1980s. It is purpose-built for use by scientists and engineers.

Programmers use Matlab to build machine learning and deep learning applications. Matlab-based programs enable users to analyze data, create algorithms, process images, and validate studies.

In general, Matlab is easier to learn than the other programming languages ​​on our list. The MathWorks Web site has an extensive section dedicated to answering questions about Matlab.

The average annual salary for a Matlab developer is $100,760.

13. TypeScript

TypeScript is a newcomer to the list of top programming languages, but it is gaining ground. Developed by Microsoft in 2012, it is a typed version of JavaScript that is ideal for large code bases. TypeScript is used to create JavaScript-based projects in both client-side and server-side development, helping to catch bugs and prevent system problems.

TypeScript was named the "Most Adopted Technology" in the 2021 State of JavaScript survey. TypeScript developers typically earn an average of $75,199 per year.

14. Scala

Scala is a general-purpose, type-safe Java virtual machine language that combines the best of oop and functional programming languages ​​into a special high-level language. Scala is great for reducing and eliminating bugs in large and complex applications. It supports both object-oriented and functional programming.

Programmers can use Scala to do anything they would normally do with Java. Scala is a complex language, but this complexity gives it a great deal of flexibility. Companies using Scala include Netflix, Twitter, and The New York Times.

The average annual salary of a Scala developer is $127,005.

15. SQL 

SQL is a standard database query language. It is used to access and manipulate data in the database. SQL is a declarative language that specifies desired results but not the steps to achieve those results. SQL is a powerful tool for accessing and manipulating data and is the most widely used database query language in the world.

Benefits of SQL

• SQL is a standard database query language that enables users to quickly manipulate and query data in a database.
• SQL is widely used in many applications and environments, such as web applications, data warehouses, and e-business applications.
• SQL has many advantages over other database query languages, such as improved performance, better data integrity, and more accessible data manipulation.

Disadvantages of SQL

• SQL can be difficult to learn if you are not familiar with programming or database concepts.
• SQL can be slow compared to other languages, mainly when dealing with large databases.
• And SQL is not well suited for certain types of tasks, such as complex mathematical calculations or machine learning.

16. HTML 

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard language for creating web pages and applications. HTML is used to create web pages. You can use HTML to add images, links, and other types of content to your web pages. HTML is a simple programming language; you don't need to know much to create a basic web page.

Images and other objects, such as interactive forms, can be embedded in generated pages using HTML structures. It creates structured documents by indicating the structural semantics of text elements, including headings, paragraphs, lists, links, citations, and other objects. HTML elements are described by tags, which are written in angle brackets.

Benefits of HTML

• The benefits of using HTML include creating well-structured, standards-compliant web pages that are easy to maintain and update.
• HTML is also easy to learn and is a great starting point for those new to web development.
• HTML is used to structure and present content on the web, often in conjunction with CSS and JavaScript.
• Additionally, HTML5 provides better support for multimedia and interactive content, making it a powerful tool for creating engaging web experiences.
• HTML5 is the latest version and includes new features such as video and audio elements, local storage, and 2D/3D graphics. HTML5 aims to be more user-friendly and efficient than previous versions of HTML.

Disadvantages of HTML

There are some potential downsides to using HTML as a language for Web development. 

• First, because HTML is a markup language, it's not as expressive as programming languages ​​like JavaScript or PHP, which means that developing complex web applications or pages in HTML can be more challenging.
• Also, HTML is not a very secure language, so web developers must carefully encode any user input to properly prevent security breaches.
• Finally, HTML can be a bit difficult to learn for newcomers, as it has many different elements and syntax rules

17. CSS 

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a style sheet language used to describe how pages generated in markup languages ​​should be rendered. A style sheet is a set of rules for a web browser that can control HTML or XML. All HTML markup, including text within the body of a document, headings, paragraphs, and other text elements, is styled using CSS. Display of grid components, table elements, and images 

Benefits of CSS

• CSS is used to style all HTML markup, including document body, headings, paragraphs, and other material. CSS can also be used to set how table components, grid elements, and images are displayed.
• Web developers use CSS to create responsive and accessible websites. CSS makes it easier for web developers to create websites that look good on all devices, including phones and tablets.
• CSS can also help make websites more accessible to people with disabilities.
• CSS is easy to learn and use. Many tutorials and resources are available online, and anyone can start designing their web pages with CSS.

Disadvantages of CSS

• CSS can be difficult to debug. When there are errors in CSS files, it can be difficult to find the source of the problem.
• And it can be time consuming to write. CSS files can be large and complex, and creating and maintaining them can take a lot of time.
• Overall, CSS is a powerful tool for styling web documents. However, it is crucial to understand the potential downsides before using it.

18. NoSQL 

NoSQL databases are non-relational databases designed to provide high performance and scalability. NoSQL databases are often used in big data applications where data is distributed across many nodes.

The four main categories of NoSQL databases are as follows:

• key-value store,
• column store,
• document storage,
• and graph databases.

Benefits of NoSQL

• NoSQL is a database system that does not use the traditional relational model.
• NoSQL databases are often used for big data applications that need to scale quickly.
• NoSQL databases are faster and more scalable than relational databases.

Disadvantages of NoSQL

• NoSQL databases are generally less mature than SQL databases, and thus may lack some of the features and functionality that SQL databases offer.
• Also, because NoSQL databases are less standardized than SQL databases, finding skilled personnel who can use them can be more challenging.
• NoSQL databases may be less compatible with existing applications and infrastructure than SQL databases.

19. Rust

Rust is a programming language designed to be safe, concurrent, and practical. It is a systems programming language that is extremely fast, prevents segmentation faults, and is thread-safe. Rust is also memory efficient: it uses minimal memory, making it ideal for embedded systems.

The benefits of Rust

• Rust is a fast and efficient language for creating high-performance applications.
• Rust is also a safe and reliable language, which makes it ideal for developing mission-critical software.
• Plus, Rust is easy to learn and use, and has a great community of developers who are always happy to help.

Disadvantages of Rust

While Rust has many features that make it an attractive language, there are some downsides to using it. 

• Other languages ​​need more support or documentation available, as it is a new language, it is difficult to learn and use Rust.
• Additionally, Rust only supports a subset of platforms, and integrating with existing codebases can be challenging.

20. Perl  

Perl is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language. Although Perl is not an official acronym, various antonyms exist, including "Practical Extraction and Report Language." Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to simplify report processing. It has undergone many changes and revisions since then. 

Perl is widely considered the "Swiss Army Knife" of programming languages ​​because of its versatility and power. It is used for a variety of tasks, including web development, network programming, system administration, and more.

Benefits of Perl

• Perl is a powerful programming language with many features and applications. It is widely used in system administration, web development, network programming, and many other fields.
• Perl is easy to learn, and its clean syntax makes it a great choice for beginners. It's also very general, allowing you to write programs in a variety of styles.
• Perl has excellent support for many databases, making it a good choice for database-driven applications. It also has excellent support for graphics and multimedia, making it ideal for media-rich applications.

Disadvantages of Perl

Although Perl is an interesting and feature-rich programming language, it has some drawbacks. 

• First, it's more challenging than some other languages ​​like Python, and has a steep learning curve that can be confusing for beginners.
• Also, Perl is not as widely used as other languages, so there isn't as much support available.
• Finally, it can be very slow compared to some other languages.