The most difficult question a beginner programmer faces is which programming language to learn first. How to make the right choice and what criteria should you follow?
Today, there are over 600 unique programming languages. First and foremost, you need to understand which ones are in demand. This is a crucial factor if you don’t want to spend years searching for the right job after finishing your studies.
Another important criterion is the complexity of the language. Of course, you can start learning one of the most difficult ones—but is it really rational to spend several years on one language only to realize later that it was the wrong choice?
You should also decide what kind of tasks you want to solve with programming. Game development or websites? Or maybe creating mobile applications?
In our short review, we’ll go over the 5 most in-demand programming languages that are also optimal for beginners. The final choice is up to you.
One more thing to note (since it’s a common misconception): HTML and CSS are not exactly programming languages. HTML is a hypertext markup language, and CSS is a set of styles. If your goal is web development, you can’t go anywhere without these two buddies—HTML and CSS. So, you’ll have to start with them.
JavaScript
In 2018, Stack Overflow conducted a survey, and 71.5% of 64,000 developers from 170 countries said that JavaScript is the most popular programming language.
Anyone who wants to become a programmer can learn this language. There are tons of books, tutorials, free and paid courses, and video lessons online to help you learn JavaScript.
When JavaScript first appeared, many didn’t take it seriously. But it has stood the test of time—many of its flaws have been fixed, and today it's used everywhere. It’s employed in website development, web apps, and web services. JavaScript libraries and frameworks allow you to build mobile and desktop apps and even games.
Another major advantage of JavaScript is that you only need a browser to work with it. You don’t have to download or install anything, unlike with many other languages. You can simply open the developer console in Google Chrome.
JavaScript likely won’t be your only programming language, but it’s where many people begin—and they rarely regret the time and effort spent.
Java
The first thing you should know about this language: it’s not the same as JavaScript. And if you ever call a JavaScript developer a Java developer, they’ll probably stay mad at you for a long time.
Java is rightly among the top three programming languages in the world. It’s used to build and run applications for various operating systems and is constantly adapted to the ever-changing IT world.
Java is the primary language for Android development. It’s also widely used for backend programming and desktop application development.
A beginner will be able to understand its syntax—not effortlessly, but with a reasonable amount of effort. It’s considered a high-level language, meaning it’s closer to human language than to machine code.
Java is based on C++ syntax but is not as intimidating for a beginner as C++.
Python
This programming language is taught not only in universities but even in high school and middle school. That speaks volumes about how beginner-friendly it is.
Python shatters the myth that programming is too hard. Its extremely simple syntax lets you write code without spending weeks studying textbooks and courses.
Python is a general-purpose language used in web development, machine learning, and data analysis. You can write almost anything with it—apps, games, scripts, and more.
This language has become very popular in a relatively short time. The demand for Python is likely tied to the rise of artificial intelligence. So, it's safe to say this language has a bright future.
PHP
This is the language used to build the majority of websites and web apps. Large platforms like Wikipedia, Facebook, and WordPress all use PHP.
PHP can be considered a simple and versatile web development tool. It’s easy to start your programming journey with PHP, but becoming a professional and writing quality scripts takes months of experience. Otherwise, your code might end up difficult to maintain.
One of PHP’s advantages is that it’s open source and allows for quick website creation. Affordability and speed are two qualities that keep PHP developers in demand.
But for larger web projects, PHP is often used in combination with other languages. So be ready for PHP to be just one part of your skillset.
C#
C# is another popular and beginner-friendly programming language. It was created by Microsoft, and its first version appeared back in 2000.
Initially, C# borrowed a lot from C, C++, and Java—but that didn’t stop it from forging its own path. Today, the language continues to evolve, with new syntax features and faster performance, all thanks to strong support from Microsoft.
C# includes many features that simplify writing and reading code, which is especially important when working with someone else's code.
C# job openings can be found in almost every region. And the entry barrier is relatively low—so go for it!
We’ve covered 5 of the most relevant programming languages. Learning any of them will help you find a job—either in an office or remotely. But keep in mind that a developer’s qualifications go far beyond knowing just one language. So maybe it’s best not to overthink the question “Which programming language should I learn first?”