Top 5 Computer Programming Languages of 2025

Behind all language is the concept that systems of patterns can create meaning greater than the sum of their parts. But how do you create meaning for a machine? Programming languages were developed to answer this very question. Bridging the gap between human language and mechanical function, these technical lexicons build, change, and control the ways in which computers work. And just like you would switch the language you speak depending on what country you visit, developers use different coding languages depending on what systems they need to program.

What Is a Programming Language?

In the late 1700s, humans began to mechanize our work. Early manufacturing systems were revelatory, but the machines were cumbersome, complicated, and still required heavy physical labor to operate. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, people began to look for ways to “tell” mechanical systems what to do so they could be operated with less effort.

The earliest example of what of we would call a programming language was patented by Joseph-Marie Jacquard in 1804. The Jacquard loom was able to weave complicated designs into fabric with a series of punched paper cards featuring patterns that could be “read” by a system of pegs, springs, and weights that lowered and raised parts of the loom, controlling the threads as they moved through the machine, just as an operator might do manually. Each linked chain of cards could create a different pattern.

Jacquard’s loom changed manufacturing forever. And what’s more, its hole punch on-off system would essentially evolve into the binary code of ones and zeroes that fundamentally operates all modern computers we know today.

What Are the Most Popular Programming Languages?

Although the humble paper card continued to be used in computing up until the late 1970s, today, hundreds of different languages exist, designed to program everything from algorithms and artificial intelligence to web development. Each language has its own set of rules and structure for writing code, similar to how grammar governs spoken language. Here are five of the most popular in use today.

Python

Python is considered one of the most beginner-friendly programming languages thanks to a syntax and structure that’s similar to English. This versatile language is used for a wide range of applications, including web development, data analytics, automation, and machine learning. Free to use and modify, Python has a large community of users contributing to its development.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a core coding language of the web as we know it. This language is a structured and efficient way to write code and allows developers to create dynamically updating content like autocompleting forms, moving graphics, pop-up menus, clickable buttons, and multimedia controls.

A 2024 technology use survey from Stack Overflow, an online knowledge-sharing platform for technologists, found that JavaScript was the most frequently used programming language by tens of thousands of developers worldwide.

C++

C++ is primarily used for building high-performance, complex software applications that require fast execution and efficient memory management. This code is ideal for areas such as system software, game development, operating systems, web browsers, databases, and algorithms that need to run quickly on a variety of devices while maximizing resources.

C#

C# (pronounced “C sharp”) is a flexible general-purpose programming language used to build a wide variety of applications across different platforms, including desktop, web, mobile apps, software, and particularly video games. Introduced by Microsoft in 2000, C# is considered the primary language for building applications on the Windows operating system.

Java

Java is a programming language that can be executed within a simulated virtual environment called the Java Virtual Machine. This platform independence makes it a popular choice for mobile applications, cloud-based systems, chatbots, and other marketing tools, as well as powering enterprise-level web applications like customer management systems.

How Do You Get Started?

Having at least a familiarity with coding languages is usually a basic requirement for anyone looking to enter a computing field, and it’s common for experienced programmers to have fluency in several languages. If you are brand new to programming, there are many free online resources available for beginner coders to start learning. With any new language, it’s important to practice using it. Sites like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, Khan Academy, and W3Schools offer interactive courses and tutorials with opportunities for you to experiment with code and test your work.

To advance in tech industries, you’ll need more than just programming language skills, and most computer and information technology occupations require well-rounded candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree. Excelsior offers a bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology to help you crack the code to building your dream tech career!