Which are the best programming languages to learn?

Below are some of the best programming languages to learn: - Python - Java - R - JavaScript - Swift - C++ - C# - PHP

10 Best Programming Language to Learn in 2026

With time old programming languages become obsolete while new programming languages are launched, but they never gain traction. A common question amongst beginners (and coders alike) is the programming language they should invest learning in, that is in demand, stable outlook, and plenty of jobs.

❓ What Programming Language should I Learn?

Each programming language is designed for a specific purpose and has its relative merits and demerits. Also, the answer to the most useful programming language to learn is subjective and depends on your familiarity with coding. Irrespective, the following 3 parameters are essential to narrow a language a choice.

1.Job Opportunities in the chosen Language.
2.The popularity of the chosen programming language should be on an uptick.
3.Your Career / Life Goals.

Below, we have listed the 10 Most Useful Programming Languages you can learn right now. Sample Usage and Applications of each language are also listed to help you decide. Read more…

1) Python

Created: The Python language was developed by Guido van Rossum. It was first released in 1991.

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its clear, readable syntax and dynamic typing. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming. Python is widely used for web development, software development, data science, automation, and more. Its design emphasizes code readability through indentation instead of braces, making it beginner-friendly and efficient for rapid development and prototyping.

Pros

It is one of the best programming languages to learn, which supports multiple systems and platforms
Object-Oriented Programming (OOPs) driven.
Helps to improve a programmer’s productivity
It is one of the best coding languages to learn which allows you to scale even the most complex applications with ease
Extensive Support Libraries

Cons

Not ideal for Mobile Computing
Python’s database access layer is a bit underdeveloped and primitive.

Usage/Application: Web and Internet Development, Scientific and Numeric applications, Desktop GUIs, Business applications. It is widely used in the AI and Machine Learning space.

Salary: An average salary for any Python developer in the United States is $114,383 per year.

Learning Difficulty: Easy

Reason Selected: Machine Learning, AI, and Data Science are emerging fields, and Python is a staple programming language in such software programs.

Link: Learn Python Tutorial

2) Java

Created: James Gosling primarily designed Java at Sun Microsystems in the year 1996.

What is JAVA?

Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language known for its portability, security, and robustness. It follows the “Write Once, Run Anywhere” principle, meaning compiled Java code runs on any platform with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Java supports multithreading, automatic memory management through garbage collection, and strong exception handling. Its simple syntax and extensive libraries make it popular for web, mobile, and enterprise applications. Java emphasizes code reliability, security, and platform independence.

Pros

Object-Oriented language
Java offers APIs for different activities like Database connection, networking, XML parsing, utilities, etc.
Powerful open source Rapid Development tools
It is one of the best programming languages to learn which has a large number of open source libraries

Cons

Memory management in Java is quite expensive
The absence of templates can limit you from creating high-quality data structures.

Usage/Application: Java is mostly used for developing Android apps, web apps, and Big data.

Salary: An average salary for any Java developer in the United States is $101,013 per year.

Learning difficulty: Learning Java is simple and easy.

Reason Selected: Java has a wide and growing adoption. There is and will never be a shortage of jobs requiring Java Skills.

Link: Learn Java Tutorial

3) R

Created: R was designed by Robert Gentleman and Ross Ihaka at the University of Auckland. This project was conceived in 1992, but its initial version was released in 1995, and a stable beta version was released in 2000.

What is R?

R is a programming language and environment designed for statistical computing, data analysis, and visualization. It supports a wide range of statistical techniques like regression, classification, and clustering. R is open-source, platform-independent, and has a vast collection of packages for data manipulation and graphical representation. Its flexibility, interactive nature, and integration with other languages make it popular in research, data science, and academia.

Pros

R is one of the best programming languages to learn, which is a comprehensive statistical analysis language that encourages you to develop new ideas
As a statistical language that is considered to be very easy to code
R is open-source software. Therefore, anyone can use and change it
R is good for GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows.
R is one of the most useful programming languages, which is cross-platform, meaning it can seamlessly run on different operating systems.

Cons

In R, the quality of some packages is not up to the mark
R does not have the best memory management. Therefore, it may consume all available memory.

Usage/Application: Data Science projects, Statistical Computing, Machine Learning

Salary: An average wage for any R developer ranges from approximately $90,042 to $136,616 per year

Learning Difficulty: Hard

Reason Selected: Data Sciences is a booming field, and R is primarily used for Data Analysis.

Link: Learn R Programming

4) JavaScript

Created: JavaScript was earlier called LiveScript when it first shipped in with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in September 1995. Later, it was renamed to JavaScript.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language mainly used to create interactive and dynamic content on web pages. It supports multi-paradigm programming styles including object-oriented, functional, and event-driven programming. JavaScript runs in web browsers and servers (via Node.js), enabling dynamic updates, animations, and asynchronous operations. It uses prototype-based inheritance, has dynamic typing, and extensive built-in libraries for web development and beyond.

Pros

Client-side JavaScript is very fast as it can be run quickly in the client-side browser
JavaScript is one of the best coding languages to learn, as it is relatively simple to learn.
It is one of the best programming languages to learn, which can work smoothly with other languages and can be used in a huge variety of applications.
Grease Monkey supports writing snippets of JavaScript that can execute on specific web pages

Cons

JavaScript only allows single inheritance, so multiple inheritance is not possible
No copy or equal method is available in JavaScript.
JavaScript is interpreted differently by different browsers.

Usage/ Applications: JavaScript usage includes web/mobile app development, game development, and desktop app development.

Salary: An average wage for a JavaScript developer in the United States is around $110,981 per year

Learning Difficulty: Easy

Reason Selected: With NodeJS, JavaScript now supports Server-Side Scripting as well. JavaScript is an indispensable language; there will always be a need for JS skills.

Link: Learn Javascript Tutorial

5) Swift

Created: Swift was developed by Apple in July 2010 so that iOS developers do not need to work with Objective-C.

What is Swift?

Swift is a modern, general-purpose programming language developed by Apple for building fast, reliable applications across Apple platforms. It is designed to be safe and easy to use, with features like automatic memory management, options for safe null handling, and error handling. Swift supports multiple paradigms, including object-oriented, functional, and protocol-oriented programming. Its clean syntax and powerful features enable efficient, concise code, making it popular for iOS, macOS, and cross-platform development.

Pros

The Swift program code is close to natural English, so it is easy to read
It is one of the most useful programming languages that has easy-to-add new features, which makes swift high-level language
It is one of the best coding languages to learn that does not have long code lines.
The Automatic Memory Management feature prevents memory leaks.

Cons

With the continuous updating of the Swift versions by Apple, it is somewhat unstable
As it is a new programming language, the pool of Swift developers is very limited

Usage applications: Swift is a specially designed language that works with Apple’s Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks to create all types of iOS apps.

Salary: An average salary for an iOS developer in the United States is around $130,801 per year

Learning difficulty: Easy

Reason Selected: Apple! Should we say more?

6) C++

Created: C++ is a programming language that was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983.

What is C++?

C++ is a high-level, general-purpose programming language developed as an extension of C, incorporating object-oriented programming (OOP) features. It supports classes, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction, enabling modular and reusable code. C++ is compiled, statically typed, and case-sensitive, offering fast execution and fine control over memory. It supports dynamic memory allocation, multi-threading, and generic programming through templates, making it ideal for system/software development, games, and performance-critical applications.

Pros

It is a popular language, and thus, there are many compilers and libraries
Other programming languages like C, C#, and Java have very similar syntax to C++, making it easy to learn for everyone who knows C++.
It is one of the popular coding languages that has no garbage collector running in the background.

Cons

The syntax is complex, and the standard library is small, making this language very difficult to learn for the beginner programmer.
A C++ program can’t support garbage collection or Dynamic Memory Allocation
The object-oriented system in C++ is unnecessarily basic compared to other languages.

Usage applications: Widely used in Enterprise Cross-Applications Development, Web Applications

Salary: The average salary for a C++ developer ranges from $66,493 per year to $101,775 per year

Learning Difficulty: Hard

Reason Selected: Widely used in Enterprise software, and the skill is in demand.

Link: Learn C++ Tutorial

7) C#

Year Created: C# is a computer programming language. It’s the first version released in 2001.

What is C#?

C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft for building a wide range of applications on the .NET framework. It features strong typing, automatic memory management, and supports component-oriented programming. C# enables development of desktop, web, mobile, and game applications with simplified syntax, garbage collection, and rich class libraries. Its design emphasizes safety, scalability, and interoperability with other languages and platforms.

Pros

C# uses almost the same syntax which follows C, so it is easy to understand for those who know the C language
It is one of the best coding languages to learn that has Easy Integration with Windows
Fully integrated with the .NET library, which provides access to a repository of functionality and support.
Safer than its namesakes (C/++) as pointer types are not permitted

Cons

It allows pointers in ‘unsafe’ blocks

Usage applications: Widely used in Enterprise Cross-Applications Development, Web Applications

Salary: The average salary for a C# developer ranges from $66,493 per year to $101,775 per year

Learning Difficulty: Hard

Reason Selected: Widely used in Enterprise software, and the skill is in demand.

Link: Learn C# Tutorial

8) PHP

Year Created: Rasmus Lerdorf created PHP in 1994

What is PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open-source, server-side scripting language widely used for web development. It enables the creation of dynamic web pages and interactive applications by embedding code within HTML. PHP supports object-oriented programming, extensive database integration, and has a simple, flexible syntax that is easy to learn. It runs on multiple platforms and is compatible with various web servers, making it popular for building scalable, secure, and data-driven websites.

Pros

Running with PHP is simple
Functional and Object-Oriented Programming
It is one of the top programming languages that has a Large Open Source Software Community
It is one of the best coding languages that has a reasonably good system of automation tools available for testing and deploying
It is an open-source programming language

Cons

Error-handling facility is poor,, as PHP lacks a debugging tool
Developing a website with PHP Web Development is slower than other programming languages.

Usage applications: Web Applications, Content Management Systems, eCommerce Applications

Salary: The average salary for a PHP Developer in the US is $84,727 per year

Learning Difficulty: Easy

Reason Selected: Most popular scripting language. WordPress, Facebook all created using PHP. Never a shortage of PHP jobs.

Link: Learn PHP Tutorial

9) SQL

Created: SQL was developed at IBM by Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce. This language was made available publicly in 1979.

What is SQL?

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standardized programming language designed for managing and manipulating relational databases. It enables querying, inserting, updating, and deleting data through commands like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. SQL supports data definition, data manipulation, transaction control, and security features. As a declarative language, SQL specifies what results are needed, not how to get them, making it widely used for efficient data management in database systems.

Pros

Powerful query language
Optimised for large numbers of table rows
Fast for searching and querying of data
High availability and consistency of data
Fast for retrieving data from multiple tables

Cons

Difficult to convert data from Objects into database tables
It can only run on a single server, so increasing speed means upgrading hardware.
As SQL databases run on a single server so in case if the server stops working, then the database shouldn’t be accessed

Usage applications: Used in Any Database

Salary: The average salary earned by a SQL Developer is $84,792 per year in the United States

Learning Difficulty: Easy

Reason Selected: You need to know databases and SQL irrespective of what profile/language you choose as a software developer.

Link: Learn SQL Tutorial

10) Go

Created: Go language, which is also known as golang, was developed at Google in 2009 by Robert Griesemer, Ken Thompson, and Rob Pike.

What is Go?

Go, also known as Golang, is an open-source, statically typed, compiled programming language developed by Google. It is designed for simplicity, efficiency, and fast compilation. Go features built-in concurrency support through goroutines and channels, automatic garbage collection, and a powerful standard library. Its syntax is clean and easy to read. Go emphasizes performance, fast execution, platform independence, and scalability, making it ideal for system tools, network servers, and cloud applications.

Pros

Go is a really fast language as it is compiled to machine code
Its syntax is small compared to other languages, and it’s easy to learn.
It is one of the best programming languages to learn, which offers a standard library to provide handy built-in functions for working with primitive types
Go makes concurrent programming easy.

Cons

Poor Library Support
Interfaces Are Implicit
Fractured Dependency Management

Usage applications: Console utilities, GUI applications, and web applications

Salary: The average salary earned by a GO Developer is $94,082 per year in the United States

Learning Difficulty: Difficult

Reason Selected: Upcoming language from Google.

Link: Learn Go Programming

What Factors Should You Consider Before Choosing a Programming Language?

Before selecting a programming language, assess career goals, industry relevance, and learning resources. A language with broad job demand offers more opportunities. Check if the language is easy to learn or requires deep technical knowledge. Evaluate its ecosystem—frameworks, community support, and documentation. Also, look for tools that enhance productivity, such as debuggers and package managers. Finally, consider whether the language is used in emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, or cloud computing. A thoughtful choice now can future-proof your career growth.

What Are the Best Programming Languages for AI in 2025?

The best programming languages for Artificial Intelligence in 2025 are Python, R, and Swift. Python remains the top choice because of libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn, which make AI model development simple and powerful. R is excellent for data visualization and statistical analysis, helping with data-driven insights. Swift, supported by Apple’s Core ML and TensorFlow Swift, enables smooth integration of AI into iOS applications. Together, these languages empower developers to create intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly AI systems for real-world use.

FAQ

DA programming language is a language that is used to develop computer programs. The programs developed can range from operating systems; data based applications through to networking solutions.

Below are some of the Best Programming Language to Learn:

Python
Java
R
Javascript
Swift
C++
C#
PHP

Yes. Anyone can learn programming through online tutorials, free platforms, and structured courses that focus on hands-on coding and project-based learning.

No. Each language has unique strengths—some excel in data analysis, others in web or mobile development, and some are built for system-level or enterprise applications.

No. While AI can automate code generation, understanding programming logic and structure remains crucial to guide, debug, and optimize AI-produced solutions.

No. Many languages today are designed to be user-friendly with readable syntax, comprehensive libraries, and strong community support that eases the learning curve.

Yes. Certain languages are optimized for handling data, numerical computation, and machine learning frameworks, making them essential for AI-based applications.

Yes. Many languages support cross-platform development, letting developers build mobile apps that run on both Android and iOS devices efficiently.

No. While some languages are versatile, each development field—web, AI, mobile, or embedded systems—benefits from specialized languages and frameworks.

With consistent practice, most beginners can gain working proficiency in a few months, though mastery and advanced applications take longer dedication.

10 Best Programming Language to Learn in 2026