Introduction to Programming Languages (original) (raw)
Last Updated : 15 Oct, 2025
Programming languages are the foundation of software development, allowing developers to create applications, websites, and systems through computer-understandable instructions.
- They use a formal syntax and rules to write code that is translated into machine language for execution by the computer.
- Programming languages bridge human logic and machine execution, providing a structured way to solve problems.
- Different languages serve different purposes — for example, Python is beginner-friendly and versatile, while C++ is used for high-performance tasks like game development.
Types of Programming Languages
Programming languages are classified based on their level of abstraction:
- **High-Level Languages: Human-readable and are portable across computers. Examples: Python, Java, JavaScript. They need a compiler or interpreter to run.
- **Low-Level Languages: Close to machine code, giving more control over hardware but harder to write. Examples: Machine code.
- **Assembly Languages: A mix between high- and low-level, using simple symbolic instructions for a computer. An assembler converts it into machine code.
Key Terms in Programming Languages
- **Syntax****:** Rules for writing code, like grammar in human languages (e.g., C uses
{}, Python uses indentation). - **Data Types****:** Types of data a program can handle, like integers, floats, strings, and booleans.
- **Variables****:** Named storage for data that can change during program execution (e.g.,
score = 100). - **Operators****:** Symbols like
+,-,*,/, and==for arithmetic or comparisons. - **Control Statements****:** Manage program flow using
if-else, loops, and function calls. - **Libraries & Frameworks****:** Pre-written code to simplify tasks (e.g., Python’s pandas, JavaScript’s React).
- **Paradigms****:** Programming styles, like Procedural (C), Object-Oriented (Java), and Functional (Haskell).
Popular Programming Languages
Here are some widely used programming languages and their typical applications:
- **Python: Known for simplicity and readability, used in data science, machine learning, and web development.
- **Java: Platform-independent, popular for enterprise applications and Android development.
- **JavaScript: Essential for web development, enabling interactive websites.
- **C++: High-performance language for system programming, games, and real-time applications.
- **C#: Used for Windows applications and game development with Unity.
- **Swift: Apple’s language for iOS and macOS apps.
- **Go: Designed for scalability and cloud computing.
- **Ruby: Known for web frameworks like Ruby on Rails.
Each language has unique strengths, making it suitable for specific domains
Basic Example Of Most Popular Programming Languages:
Here the basic code for addition of two numbers are given in some popular languages (like C, C++,Java, Python, C#, JavaScript etc.).
C++ `
// C++ program for sum of 2 numbers #include using namespace std;
int main() { int a, b, sum; a = 10; b = 15; sum = a + b; cout << "Sum of " << a << " and " << b << " is: " << sum; // perform addition operation return 0; }
C
// C program for sum of 2 numbers #include <stdio.h>
int main() { int a, b, sum; a = 10; b = 15; sum = a + b; printf("Sum of %d and %d is: %d", a, b, sum); // perform addition operation return 0; }
Java
// Java program for sum of 2 numbers import java.io.*;
class GFG { public static void main(String[] args) { int a, b, sum; a = 10; b = 15; sum = a + b; System.out.println( "Sum of " + a + " and " + b + " is: " + sum); // perform addition operation } }
Python
Python program for sum of 2 numbers
a = 10 b = 15 add = a + b # perform addition operation print(f"Sum of {a} and {b} is: {add} ")
C#
// C# program for sum of 2 numbers using System;
class GFG {
public static void Main()
{
int a, b, sum;
a = 10;
b = 15;
sum = a + b;
Console.Write("Sum of " + a + " and " + b + " is: "
+ sum); // perform addition operation
}}
` JavaScript ``
let a = 10;
let b = 15;
let add = a + b; // perform addition operation
console.log(Sum of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>n</mi><mi>d</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{a} and </annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">an</span><span class="mord mathnormal">d</span></span></span></span>{b} is: ${add});
`` PHP `
sum=sum = sum=a+$b; //perform addition operation echo "Sum of aanda and aandb is: $sum"; //This code is contributed by Susobhan Akhuli ?>Scala
// Scala program for sum of 2 numbers object Main { def main(args: Array[String]) { val a = 10; val b = 15; val sum = a + b; //perform addition operation println("Sum of " + a + " and " + b + " is: " + sum); } }
Cobol
*> Cobol program for sum of 2 numbers IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. SUMOFTWONUMBERS.
DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 77 B PIC 99. 77 A PIC 99. 77 SU PIC 99. PROCEDURE DIVISION. SET A TO 10. SET B TO 15. ADD A B GIVING SU. DISPLAY "Sum of " A " and " B " is: "SU. STOP RUN.
Dart
// Dart program for sum of 2 numbers void main() { var a = 10; var b = 15; var sum = a+b; // perform addition operation print("Sum of aand{a} and aand{b} is: ${sum}"); }
Go
// Go program for sum of 2 numbers package main
import "fmt"
// Main function func main() { a:= 10 b:= 15 su:= a + b // perform addition operation fmt.Printf("Sum of %d and %d is: %d", a, b, su) }
Julia
Julia program for sum of 2 numbers
a = 10 b = 15 su = a + b # perform addition operation println("Sum of ", a, " and ", b, " is: ", su)
`
Output
Sum of 10 and 15 is: 25
**Tips for learning new programming language
By following these steps, you’ll learn faster and build a solid foundation in any new programming language.
- Start with Fundamentals: Learn syntax, variables, data types, and control structures.
- Practice Regularly: Write code daily to build consistency and skill.
- Work on Projects: Apply concepts through small personal projects.
- Read Documentation: Understand language features and best practices.
- Engage with Communities: Ask questions and learn from others.
- Learn from Experts: Study code from experienced developers.
- Practice Debugging: Strengthen problem-solving by fixing errors in your code.