Published 24 June 2022 Updated 24 June 2022 / Learning to code

The 10 Most Popular Programming Languages Of 2022 — & How To Learn Them

When you’re first starting your coding journey, deciding which programming language to learn is one of the first questions you’ll need to ask yourself. There are a lot of programming languages out there, and developers tend to have strong opinions about which languages they like (and dread) using.

Stack Overflow, the community platform where people ask and answer technical questions, surveyed more than 70,000 developers last month to determine the technologies they use most, and take the tech workforce’s pulse on relevant issues like productivity and salaries.

The survey results might inspire you to start learning something new — or at the very least, affirm your personal programming preferences.

The most popular programming languages of 2022

Curious what the most popular programming languages of 2022 are? Here are the top 10 programming languages ranked by professional developers and code enthusiasts — and how to start learning them today.

1. JavaScript: This versatile language frequently tops Stack Overflow’s dev survey, and for good reason. JavaScript is flexible, powerful, and crucial for making interactive web technology. If you’re new to JavaScript, start with our course Learn JavaScript, and then check out our full list of JavaScript courses and tutorials.
2. HTML/CSS: The power couple of web development, HTML and CSS define the structure and style of web pages. Learn them both with Build a Website with HTML, CSS, and GitHub Pages, or start from the top with the course Learn HTML. To explore the breadth of what you can do with HTML/CSS, try one of our Practice and Portfolio Projects.
3. SQL: If you’re interested in data science, SQL is the data management language used to query and manipulate data in a relational database. In our beginner-friendly skill path Data Science Foundations, you’ll learn how to use SQL to communicate with data and get hands-on experience working with datasets. You can also start with Learn SQL to get a basic understanding of the language and how data impacts our world today.
4. Python: People tend to dig Python because its syntax is easy to understand and it can be used for everything from web development and machine learning to data science and financial analysis. Learn Python 3 is a solid introduction to Python programming. Or take your skills a step further with Get started with Machine Learning.
5. TypeScript: Technically, TypeScript is a superset that builds on JavaScript, making it easier to find potential bugs and maintain your code. In our course Learn TypeScript, you’ll learn how to apply JavaScript syntax to TypeScript’s type system.
6. Java: This old-school language is still used for Android app development, web development, game development, smart devices, and more. Learn Java’s fundamentals and build practice projects in our introductory Java course.
7. Bash/Shell: Linux and macOS developers will need to know this command-line interface shell program. Check out Learn the Command Line first, then learn how to automate tasks with Learn Bash Scripting.
8. C#: The high-level language developed by Microsoft is used for web, game, and mobile app development as well as enterprise software. Explore our C# courses to get a sense of the products you can build with C#, or start writing code right away with Learn C#.
9. C++: Developers use C++ for large-scale software that relies on speed and efficient memory management — like robotics, IoT devices, and AR/VR. Jump in with our Learn C++ course.
10. PHP: PHP works with HTML to make websites dynamic. In our course Learn PHP, you’ll put your skills to the test coding three different projects.

The most popular programming languages for learning how to code

People who are learning how to code (as opposed to professional developers) had similar responses to the survey, with HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and Python almost tied for first place:

1. HTML/CSS
2. JavaScript
3. Python
4. Bash/Shell

How to choose the best programming language for you

Some other cool findings from the new survey? The most-loved programming language among developers is Rust, with 86% of respondents saying they love using the general-purpose programming language. (Keep an eye out for our new course, Rust for Programmers, which will launch this summer.) Rust and Python are the languages that developers want to work with, but aren’t already, according to the survey.

For more in-depth findings, check out the Stack Overflow Developer Survey here.

It’s fun to get an insider peek into what technologies people are using today, but remember: You can’t go wrong when you’re choosing a programming language to learn. There’s a good chance that you’ll encounter a handful of these languages as you progress as a developer and pick up new skills that transfer to other technologies. Plus, the tech landscape is always changing, so it’s in your best interest to stay flexible and keep learning.

JavaScript Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

JavaScript is a fun and flexible programming language. It’s one of the core technologies of web development and can be used on both the front-end and the back-end.

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