Top 20 Programming Languages to Learn [2025 Updated] (original) (raw)

Whether you're starting your coding journey, upskilling, or want to make a career in artificial intelligence, data science in this rapidly evolving tech world, staying ahead requires mastering the right programming language in 2025. The top programming langauges include Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, C++ etc. as these are high in demand and are most popular programming languages.

Our 2025 updated guide on the top 20 programming languages highlights the best options for **web development, **data science, **artificial intelligence, mobile apps, and more. From industry favorites like Python and JavaScript to emerging languages reshaping technology, this list will help you choose the most relevant tools to achieve your career goals in the ever-changing digital world. We’ll break down the top 20 programming languages based on **popularity, versatility, job demand, and future trends—helping you make informed choices to advance your career.

Table of Content

• Top 20 Programming Languages to Learn in 2025
• 1. Python
• 2. JavaScript
• 3. Java
• 4. C#
• 5. C++
• 6. PHP
• 7. Ruby
• 8. Swift
• 9. R
• 10. SQL
• 11. Kotlin
• 12. TypeScript
• 13. Go
• 14. Rust
• 15. Scala
• 16. Dart
• 17. Perl
• 18. MATLAB
• 19. VBA or (Visual Basic for Applications)
• 20. Shell Scripting
• Top Programming Languages for Specific Domains

Top 20 Programming Languages to Learn in 2025

The list of the best programming languages is sourced from the **Stack Overflow Developer Survey, **GitHub Octoverse, and the **TIOBE Index. We've also analyzed job market demand through platforms like **Indeed, **Glassdoor, and **LinkedIn to highlight the skills companies are currently hiring for. We have provided information about the **top programming languages to learn, as well as those offering the highest salaries:

1. Python

**Python is a **high-level, **interpreted language with the primary principle of ease of readability. It caters to a number of **programming paradigms: **procedural, **object-oriented, and **functional programming. Its large extent of the **standard library and vigorous community turn **Python into an applicable choice for a whole variety of aspects—from **web development to **data science.

Key Features

• **Versatile, rich libraries, strong community.
• Slower than compiled languages.
• Used in data science, machine learning, web apps, automation.
• Highly ranked in developer surveys and job markets.

**Libraries/Frameworks: **TensorFlow, **Django, **Flask, **Pandas.

**2. JavaScript

**JavaScript is a **high-level language, mostly applied in **web development. It gives the competing power of dynamic content on websites and is supported by all modern web browsers. Then, with **Node.js, **JavaScript started to be in wide usage for **server-side development; therefore, it became one of the most critical **languages in **full-stack development.

Key Features

• **Widely used in web and full-stack development; vital for modern web apps.
• Challenging with large codebases and browser inconsistencies.
• Essential for front-end and back-end development, especially with Node.js.
• Most used language for ten consecutive years, per Stack Overflow 2023 survey.

**Frameworks: **React, **Angular, **Vue.js.

**3. Java

**Java is an **object-oriented, class-based language with as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is known for its **system independence, because of the **Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Nowadays, it is heavily applied everywhere in **enterprise environments and in the development of **Android apps and **large-scale systems.

Key Features

• **Cross-platform, high performance, mature; "write once, run anywhere" feature.
• Verbose syntax, slow startup times; makes maintenance and writing challenging.
• Used in enterprise solutions, Android apps, big data.
• Consistently ranks in the top 5 on the TIOBE Index 2023; popular in large companies and Android development.

Frameworks: **Spring, **Spring Boot, **Hibernate, Vaadin.

**4. C#

**C# is a **modern, high-level object-oriented programming language developed by **Microsoft. It represents an element of the ****.NET ecosystem** and literally means being simple, robust, and in a position to empower a developer for creating any form of application, whether on the desktop, the web, or even in a mobile environment.

Key Features

• **Integrates well with .NET, robust, user-friendly; excels in Windows development and modern paradigms.
• Primarily tied to Microsoft platforms, though less so with .NET Core.
• Key for game development with Unity and enterprise applications.
• Strongly favored in enterprise and game development within Microsoft environments.

**Frameworks: ****.NET Core**, **ASP.NET.

**5. C++

**C++ is certainly a rather powerful extension of standard **C, which adds to it the power of **object-oriented features. It also boasts features such as **high performance and **efficiency, making it quite fit for **system programming, **game development, and even applications that need **real-time processing.

Key Features

• **Offers high performance and precise memory control; ideal for system-level programming.
• Complex syntax with a steep learning curve; requires deep understanding to utilize fully.
• Widely used for system programming, game engines, and performance-critical apps.
• Consistently ranks high for system-level and high-performance applications on the TIOBE Index.

**Frameworks: **Qt, **Boost

**6. PHP

**PHP is a **server-side scripting language for development on the Internet, though it has also been used as a general **programming language. It finds its major applications in the creation of **dynamic websites and **Content Management Systems (CMS).

Key Features

• **Easy to learn, widely supported, excels in web development; strong database integration, especially with MySQL.
• Faces security vulnerabilities and performance issues at scale compared to newer languages.
• Predominantly used in web development and powering major CMSs like WordPress.
• Dominates web development with about 75% market share in CMS usage.

**Frameworks: **Laravel, **Symfony

**7. Ruby

**Ruby is an **open-sourced, dynamic language designed with ease of use and productivity in mind. It has a very clean syntax that's easy to read and write.

Key Features

• **Highly readable, simple syntax, boosts productivity with Ruby on Rails.
• Slower performance; less prevalent in enterprise settings.
• Ideal for web development and scripting, especially with Rails.
• Favored by startups and for rapid web development projects.

**Frameworks: **Ruby on Rails, **Sinatra

**8. Swift

**Swift is a powerful, intuitive **programming language for **macOS, **iOS, **watchOS, and **tvOS. Developing in **Swift is interactive and fun; its syntax is concise yet expressive, and **Swift includes modern features developers love.

Key Features

• **Features modern syntax, safety by design, and high performance.
• Primarily confined to Apple's ecosystem; smaller community.
• Used for developing iOS and macOS applications.
• Rapidly growing in popularity, essential for iOS mobile development.

**Frameworks: **SwiftUI, **Vapor

**9. R

**R is a **statistical computing and **graphics language and environment. It is very much extensible and has a large collection of abilities and techniques in its niche, thus being a favorite choice for doing **data analysis and **academic research.

Key Features

• **Designed for statistical computing and data visualization; excels in data manipulation and graphical output.
• Performance lags in non-statistical tasks; challenging for non-statisticians.
• Preferred for data analysis, statistics, and academic research.
• Widely used in academia and data science communities.

**Libraries: **ggplot2, **dplyr, **Shiny

**10. SQL

**SQL is the **language standard of **relational database management and **manipulation. It is, hence, a quite important tool in querying and managing databases applied to various aspects.

Key Features

• Essential for database management; excels in data manipulation.
• Specialized for data-related tasks; not suited for general programming.
• Used for data retrieval, database administration, and data warehousing.
• Ubiquitous in data-centric roles and a fundamental skill in database handling.
• Compatible with various programming languages and database systems.

**11. Kotlin

**Kotlin is a new **statically typed programming language, meaning it's interoperable with **Java. It aims at improving productivity and safety, with gradual penetration into **Android development.

Key Features

• **Leverages Java interoperability, modern syntax, and null safety to reduce boilerplate and enhance security.
• Ecosystem smaller than Java's, with ongoing development of robust libraries needed.
• Increasingly preferred for Android development and server-side applications.
• Rapidly growing in popularity, especially in Android development, and officially supported by Google.

**Frameworks: **Ktor, **Spring Boot Kotlin

**12. TypeScript

**TypeScript is a **strongly typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. It adds static types to the language, which can improve code quality and maintainability.

Key Features

• **Optimized for speed with simple syntax and strong concurrency, ideal for microservices and cloud computing.
• Younger language with a smaller range of libraries than its predecessors.
• Frequently used for backend systems, especially in cloud services and system programming.
• Gaining traction in DevOps and cloud computing for its efficiency in modern applications.

**Frameworks: **Angular, **NestJS.

**13. Go

**Go, also known as Golang, is a **statically typed, **compiled language designed by Google. It is known for its simplicity and efficiency, particularly in building scalable and concurrent applications.

Key Features

• **Prioritizes simplicity and speed, with robust concurrency support and fast compilation, making it well-suited for cloud services and microservices.
• While growing, its library ecosystem is less developed compared to more established languages.
• Commonly used in cloud infrastructure, system programming, and microservices due to its efficiency and performance.
• Increasingly preferred in DevOps and cloud computing, recognized for its utility in modern, cloud-based applications.

**Frameworks: **Gin, **Echo

**14. Rust

**Rust is a systems programming language focused on **safety, speed, and concurrency. It is designed to prevent common bugs and ensure memory safety without needing a garbage collector.

Key Features

• **Ensures memory safety and performance, perfect for system-level tasks.
• Challenging to learn with a developing support ecosystem.
• Applied in system programming and performance-critical tasks needing high safety.
• Quickly growing in favor, particularly for its safety and efficiency in systems programming.

**Frameworks: **Actix, Rocket

**15. Scala

**Scala is a high-level language that combines **object-oriented and **functional programming. It is designed to be concise and to offer a powerful type of system.

Key Features

• **Blends object-oriented and functional programming, featuring a concise syntax for expressing complex ideas.
• Presents a steep learning curve and longer compilation times, which can deter newcomers.
• Used in big data processing, distributed systems, and web development, excelling in environments requiring scalable solutions.
• Favored in data-intensive and scalable system development, particularly among data science and functional programming professionals.

**Frameworks: **Play, Akka

**16. Dart

**Dart is a **client-optimized language for fast apps on any platform. It is designed for building mobile, desktop, server, and web applications.

Key Features

• **Designed for UI with fast development cycles and hot reload; Dart is noted for enhancing UI development performance and usability.
• Has a smaller, growing community and a less mature ecosystem than more established languages.
• Primarily used for building cross-platform mobile apps via Flutter and web development.
• Increasingly popular, especially with the rise of Flutter among mobile developers.

**Frameworks: **Flutter

**17. Perl

**Perl is a high-level, **general-purpose, interpreted language known for its text-processing capabilities. It is often used for system administration, web development, and network programming.

Key Features

• **Perl excels in text manipulation and has a robust CPAN library.
• Challenging syntax and diminishing popularity.
• Utilized for system administration, web development, and network scripting.
• Remains pertinent in legacy systems despite a general decline.

**Libraries: **CPAN

**18. MATLAB

**MATLAB is a high-performance language for technical computing. It integrates computation, visualization, and programming in an easy-to-use environment.

Key Features

• **MATLAB excels in numerical computing with extensive toolboxes for mathematical operations.
• High licensing costs and not suited for general-purpose programming.
• Used primarily for mathematical modeling, simulation, and data analysis in academia and industry.
• Highly popular in engineering and scientific research, regarded as a critical tool in these fields.

**Toolboxes: **Simulink, **Image Processing Toolbox

**19. VBA or (Visual Basic for Applications)

****(Visual Basic for Applications)** VBA is an event-driven programming language from Microsoft, primarily used for automating tasks in Microsoft Office applications.

Key Features

• VBA streamlines automation in Office applications for non-programmers.
• Restricted to Microsoft Office, unsuitable for complex software development.
• Commonly used for creating macros and custom functions in Excel and Access.
• Remains popular in business environments for enhancing Office productivity.
• Integrates well with all Microsoft Office applications.

**20. Shell Scripting

**Shell scripting is used for writing small programs that automate tasks in Unix-like operating systems.

Key Features

• **Shell scripts excel in automating routine tasks, offering simplicity in Unix-like systems.
• Best suited to Unix-like systems; not ideal for complex software development.
• Predominantly used for system administration and automating repetitive tasks.
• Highly valued in Unix-like environments, crucial for system administrators.
• Commonly utilized shells include Bash, Zsh, and Ksh.

Top Programming Languages for Specific Domains

Types of Programming Languages

**1. Procedural Programming

**Procedural programming, in general, focuses more on structured procedure calls in the shape of **structured programming. The basic application of these **languages is in education for the teaching of basic **programming. Such **languages work according to a properly defined procedure or a sequential set of steps, which is very understandable for the initial stage.

**2. Object-Oriented Programming

**OOP(Object-Oriented Programming) focuses on objects with associated data, rather than procedures and algorithm logic. **OOP languages are popular for their ability to model real-world scenarios and facilitate the reuse of code. They abstract the instances and the procedures acting on the instances, leading to the modularity and reusability of the code.

**3. Functional Programming

The growth in popularity of **functional programming is due to the fact that it is underpinned by a focus on mathematical functions and immutability—a really nice way to easily perform complex computations and parallel processing. **Functional languages make it clear that functions are pure and there isn't any shared state, which helps in the predictability of code when writing bug-free code.

**4. Logic Programming

**Logic programming is based on specifying rules and facts. Mostly, this could be applied in **artificial intelligence and **computational linguistics. A **logic language lays a stress on "what" more than "how"; as a mark of resolution, it can adequately be used only for solving the very complex problem which has a set of very clear and definite rules.

**5. Scripting Languages

As being represented, uses of **scripting languages will include **automation, **web development, and **rapid prototyping. This was speedy development; thus, easy to learn and use and are usually interpreted — what prompted them to be extremely flexible and powerful in respect to many tasks.

**Our data sources include:

• Stack Overflow Developer Survey
• GitHub Octoverse Report
• TIOBE Index
• Job Boards (Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn)

Conclusion

In **2025, the **programming landscape offers diverse choices to match project needs and career goals. Understanding the strengths and use cases of each **programming language is crucial for successful **software development. Staying updated with the **top programming languages and trends is essential for making strategic decisions that enhance your career and projects. Whether it's **Python for **data science, **JavaScript for **web development, or **Java for **enterprise solutions, each language has unique advantages.