The IT industry is always changing. New databases, programming languages, and frameworks are produced on a daily basis. You may wonder: Which programming languages are the most valuable to learn and the most in-demand by businesses in 2022?
Here is an overview of several rankings to help you choose the most in-demand programming language for you or your project. This article lists the top seven programming languages that are currently gaining popularity.
How Many Programming Languages Are There, and Which Should You Use?
Instead of searching for the best language, it is advisable to investigate the most often-used language and its applications. There are approximately 300 programming languages.
In a nutshell, each language will produce different results depending on the size and type of project. Programmers typically learn a dozen of these languages before specializing in a handful of them based on job requirements.
It is pointless to look for someone who is skilled in all of these programming languages. A more strategic approach would be to separate your project’s individual needs for each stage of the development process. So, before we look at the ranks, let us explain which language is preferable to consider at each stage of the development process:
Front-end Web Development
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
Back-end Web Development
- Java
- Scala
- Python
- Node.js
- Ruby
To learn the difference between frontend and backend web development, you can check our article.
Mobile Apps
- Swift & Objective C
- Java
- Kotlin
Desktop Apps
- Python
- Java
- Go
System Programming
- C++
- Java
- Go
Based on your requirements, you can narrow down your search to the programming language that will provide you with the best outcomes. Here’s a comparison of three lists of the most in-demand programming languages.
Top Programming Languages in 2022
| Position | PYPL ranking 2022 | Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey 2022 | TIOBE Index 2022 |
| #1 | Python | JavaScript | Python |
| #2 | Java | HTML/CSS | C |
| #3 | JavaScript | SQL | Java |
| #4 | C# | Python | C++/ C# |
| #5 | C/C++ | TypeScript | Visual Basic |
| #6 | PHP | Java | JavaScript |
These are the most popular programming languages according to the PYPL index, Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey 2022, and the TIOBE index.
Source: PYPL Index
1) PYPL Index Ranking
The GitHub PYPL Index examines the popularity of programming languages. Their strategy takes into account the tutorials that developers are looking for on Google. This index is also updated on a monthly basis.
2) Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey 2022
In May 2022, over 70,000 developers informed them how they study and level up, which tools they use, and what they want. According to the survey results, they predicted which programming languages developers use most.
3) TIOBE Index
The TIOBE Programming Community index measures the popularity of various programming languages on a monthly basis. The rankings are based on the global number of skilled engineers, courses, and third-party vendors. The ratings are calculated using popular search engines such as Google, Baidu, Amazon, Wikipedia, Yahoo!, YouTube, and Bing.
Top 6 Programming Languages in 2022
Based on these indexes and our client’s requirements, we have compiled a list of the most popular programming languages and their applications:
- Python
- Java
- JavaScript
- C#
- C/C++
- PHP
1. Python
Python is an open-source programming language that was created in the late 1980s by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum. It is an object-oriented, flexible, general-purpose programming language. Instagram, Pinterest, Disqus, Uber, Reddit, Dropbox, Spotify, Google Search, Youtube, and many other applications utilize this technology.
Python is used for:
- Data analysis and machine learning
- Backend Web development
- Application development
Apps using Python: Uber, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, Instagram, Dropbox, Spotify.
2. Java
Java was designed in 1995 by Canadian computer scientist James Gosling while working at Sun Microsystems. Java is a general-purpose, class-based, object-oriented programming language with low implementation dependencies. It is a computing platform for developing applications.
Java is used for:
- IoT
- Big Data
- Application development
Apps using Java: Google Play, School App, and Match player for Android.
3. JavaScript
JavaScript can be used by developers to control the functionality of websites by creating animated visualizations, interactive maps, and so on. According to Stack Overflow’s 2020 Developer Survey, JavaScript is the most used programming language in the world.
JavaScript is used for:
- Web development
- Game development
- Mobile applications
- Creating web servers
Apps for JavaScript: Wikipedia, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo.
4. C#
C# (pronounced see sharp) is a multi-paradigm, general-purpose programming language. C# is released by Microsoft in 2002.
C# is used for:
- Game development
- Desktop/web/mobile applications
- VR (Virtual reality)
Apps using C#: any desktop Windows apps
5. C/C++
C is one of the oldest programming languages, and it is the basis for modern languages such as JavaScript and C#. C++ can be thought of as an expanded version of C. Because both languages are fast, they are frequently utilized to create various applications. They are universal languages, which means they may be compiled for a wide range of platforms.
C/C++ is used for:
- Game development
- Mobile apps
- Editing applications for photos and videos
Apps using C/C++: Adobe products, Microsoft software, and Mozilla browser.
6. PHP
PHP is a popular programming language for web development services. PHP, being an open-source server-side scripting language, enables the development of interactive and dynamic user interfaces. Rasmus Lerdorf, a Danish-Canadian programmer, designed it first in 1994-1995.
PHP is used for:
- Website development
- Interactive interfaces
- Mobile apps
- Website development
Apps using PHP: Flickr, Yahoo, Mailchimp, Wikipedia, WordPress
Conclusion
The list of programming languages we proposed is intended to serve as a guide for determining what you require for your project or what you should learn in 2023. Besides, choosing the most popular language isn’t enough to form an effective development team. You need to have talented developers. If you require assistance with this, we are available to assist you! We can help you find the best developer – not only the right language!
