A programming language is a set of commands given to the computer for it to carry out various tasks. It is basically the grammar that a computer needs to follow to create different programs.
The popularity of programming languages varies from year to year. For instance, a programming language which was very popular the previous year might not have the same status this year, as new languages are emerging every day. It depends to a large extent on the programming languages that the students need to master to secure lucrative jobs.
Programming Languages of 2018!
Now, let us have a look at the most used programming languages of 2018 (in random order)!
JavaScript
JavaScript is easily one of the most used programming languages of not only 2018, but of the years before that as well. According to an article on Full Stack Academy, JavaScript is the most used language for six continuous years including 2018. As per Coding Dojo, it is used by more than 95% of websites and 80% of developers and its popularity is not expected to diminish anytime soon. Most of the popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube use JavaScript to develop attractive display and web pages for the users.
Java
Java is one of the oldest programming languages with more than 20 years of stay in the computer world and gazing by how popular it is, it is not going away for a long time to come. Although there was a sudden decline in its popularity this year with around 6000 fewer job postings compared to the previous year, it is still one of the most popular programming languages in the world.
The best thing about it is that one can write it on any computer and subsequently it can be run anywhere with a Java Virtual Machine. Java is mostly used to develop Android apps. Also, according to Coding Dojo, 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Java for backend development.
Python
Python is one of the most beginner-friendly programming languages out there. Just like Java, it is clear and easy-to-understand which makes it a great option for the beginners. According to Coding Dojo, its popularity rose by around 5,000 job postings since 2017. It has numerous data applications which make it a great choice for the developers. The most popular Python libraries are NumPy, SciPy, OpenCV, PyTorch which are used for scientific computing, machine learning, image processing etc.
C++
C++ is a successor of the old but still relevant programming language, C. Although C++ is not as easy as Java or Python, it is still quite popular for game development as well as for developing higher level and complicated applications. It has many of the same benefits of its predecessor C and is considered to be a great option for video games and graphics.
PHP
PHP is one of the most popular server-side scripting languages. Its popularity has, in fact, increased considerably from last year that is 2017. PHP is used to manage the content in WordPress to make the system more user-friendly for the common people.
It also increases the functionality of the HTML pages as well as makes interaction with MySQL databases easy. Popular websites like Facebook, Yahoo etc use PHP as a back-end tool. Just like Java and Python, it is user-friendly and a suitable option for those who are new at web developing.
Swift
Swift is a programming language which is used to develop iOS and macOS apps. It is comparatively newer than the other programming languages, being started in just 2014. However, within a short period of time, it has outdone its predecessor Objective-C and has now become one of the most popular programming languages. Swift is considered to be now more apt for IOS development as compared to Objective-C which is today seen as outdated.
C#
Just like C++, C# is a derivative of the programming language C. It is primarily the programming language for developing Microsoft applications. It is quite similar to C++ in terms of the syntax. Hence, if one knows C++, it wouldn’t be difficult to learn C#. Also, like C++, it is used for developing videos games. Hence, the video game developers, especially the ones developing 3D and 2D games, need to have a good command over both of these programming languages.
Ruby
Ruby is a programming language meant for web development. It is a starting point for the popular web app framework, Ruby on Rails. People often join the Ruby community because everyone in that community is known to be nice and helpful. Businesses like Airbnd, Twitter, Shopify have all used Ruby on Rails. Also, to use Ruby on Rails, you must have a good command over JavaScript for you will need it as you proceed further.
Rust
Unlike Java or PHP, Rust is not an easy programming language to master. However, its popularity is still growing by leaps and bounds as most of the developers who have used it wanted to continue with it. It brings in security and speed to programming. It puts emphasis on safety and doesn’t let the programs get access to segments of memory that they mustn’t. Renowned companies such as Coursera and Dropbox are known to use it.
Perl
Perl is one of those programming languages which perform a number of tasks. The most basic function of Perl is to convert a file into some other form. However, it performs other difficult tasks such as system programming as well. Even though its popularity has declined a little since last year, it is still in the list of one of the most used programming languages. It also continues to enjoy its popularity as a glue language.