How many programming languages do you think there are? According to Wikipedia, there are over 700 of them. If you’re getting started as a developer, you probably want to master one before catching up to the others. But there is no simple answer to “which one should I begin with?”

One way to look at the problem is to explore the job market. Take note of which languages there is an ample supply of jobs for – but then again, there are too many job websites to count. Rather than spending too much time looking for ways to get started, it's better to invest your time in learning to code. Luckily, there are many resources available that you can use to learn about the most popular programming languages.

In this article, we will take you through the most popular programming languages, and then we will give our verdict on how to decide which programming language is for you.

Please note that the rankings on the websites below are constantly changing – the rankings provided in this article are correct as of September 2022, but may become outdated as changes occur.

Indices of a programming language's popularity

TIOBE index

The TIOBE Programming Community index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. The index is created by TIOBE and published on their website. It consists of a list of the most popular programming languages, based on the number of search engine results for queries containing each language's name.

The TIOBE index is updated monthly, so you can view the most recent ranking of search queries. The top 10 programming languages as of September 2022 are the following:

1. Python
2. C
3. Java
4. C++
5. C#
6. Visual Basic
7. JavaScript
8. Assembly language
9. SQL
10. PHP

The TIOBE index can be used to track the popularity of programming languages over time. It can also be used to compare the popularity of different languages.

The index is not without its criticisms, however. Some have argued that it is biased towards languages that are popular in the Western world, and that it does not take into account the popularity of languages in other parts of the world. Nonetheless, the TIOBE index remains a widely used measure of programming language popularity.

PYPL index

The PYPL PopularitY of Programming Language index is created by analyzing how often language tutorials are searched on Google. The more a language tutorial is searched, the more popular the language is assumed to be by the index. It's a rather simple way of gauging popularity, but it seems to work well enough.

Right now, Python is the clear winner when it comes to popularity. It has been the top language on the PYPL Index since 2018 when it dethroned then most popular language Java. Since then, Python has even increased its lead against the former number one.

Here are the top 10 most popular languages according to PYPL Index, also as of September 2022.

1. Python
2. Java
3. JavaScript
4. R
5. C#
6. C/C++
7. Swift
8. TypeScript
9. Objective-C
10. PHP

IEEE Spectrum's annual ranking

IEEE Spectrum's annual ranking ranks the popularity of dozens of programming languages. The most popular languages tend to be those that are used in a lot of different places or that are particularly well suited to a specific task. This year, there are some new languages on the list, and some old favorites that have dropped off.

Here are the top 10 programming languages in September 2022, according to IEEE Spectrum:

1. Python
2. C
3. C++
4. C#
5. Java
6. SQL
7. JavaScript
8. R
9. HTML
10. TypeScript

Stack Overflow Index of programming, scripting, and markup languages

The Stack Overflow index relies on data from its annual developer survey to create its index of most popular programming languages. Since it is based on an actual survey rather than search results patterns and the audience are actual developers, it functions more as an indicator of developers’ emotions and in which direction the community is moving. Furthermore, you’ll likely come across Stack Overflow often in your journey to becoming an employable developer.

Here are the top most popular programming languages according to the Stack Overflow Annual Developer Survey 2022:

1. JavaScript
2. HTML/CSS
3. SQL
4. Python
5. TypeScript
6. Java
7. Bash/Shell
8. C#
9. C++
10. PHP

JavaScript remains the champion, coming in at the top spot for the tenth year in a row. But according to the survey, there’s a clear difference between the preferences of professionals and people who are learning to code – new coders prefer HTML, JavaScript, and Python.

Read on: How To Make The Most Of Your Software Development Team In 2022.

Most popular coding languages

Python

There are many reasons why Python is one of the most popular programming languages. It is simple and easy to learn, it is powerful and versatile, and it has a wide range of applications.

Python is simple and easy to learn because it uses a clear and consistent syntax. This makes it perfect for beginners who are just starting to learn programming. It is also easy to read and understand, which makes it a great choice for scripting and rapid prototyping.

Python is powerful and versatile because it supports both object-oriented and functional programming paradigms. This means that you can use Python for a wide range of tasks, from building simple scripts to developing complex applications.

Additionally, it is also suitable for a wide range of platforms, from small embedded systems to large clusters.

Python has a wide range of applications. It is used in scientific computing, data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and web development. It is also popular in education, as it is an excellent language for teaching programming.

C

C is still popular for a variety of reasons. One reason is that it is a very powerful and versatile language. It can be used for a wide range of programming tasks, from system programming to application development. Additionally, C has a relatively small and simple syntax, which makes it easy to learn and use.

Furthermore, C is very efficient. Programs written in C tend to be very fast and require very little memory. This makes it an ideal choice for embedded systems and other resource-constrained environments. Additionally, C compilers are typically very good at optimizing code, which further improves performance.

Java

Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, used for developing a variety of applications. There are many reasons why Java is so popular, including its platform-independence, ease of use, and robustness.

Java has a large and active community of developers who contribute to its ongoing development. This makes it easy to find help and support when needed, and to keep up with the latest advancements in the language.

C++

C++ is a versatile language that can be used for a wide variety of applications. In 2022, C++ will continue to be a powerful and popular language for game development, system programming, and more.

C++ has many advantages that make it a great choice for development in 2022. First, C++ is a very fast language, so it can be used to create programs that run quickly and efficiently.

In short, C++ is a great choice for development in 2022. It is a fast, versatile, and easy-to-use language that can be used for a wide variety of applications. If you are looking for a powerful and popular language for game development, system programming, or anything else, C++ is a great option.

R

R is a very powerful programming language, with a wide range of statistical and data analysis features. This makes it an ideal tool for many data-intensive applications.

R is increasingly being used in commercial settings, such as by major companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. This is due to its effectiveness as a data analysis tool and its growing popularity among developers.

Swift

There are many reasons to use Swift, but here are some of the most important ones:

• Swift is safe. This means that it is less likely to cause errors or crashes in your code.
• It’s fast. It has been designed to be as efficient as possible, both in terms of speed and memory usage.
• Swift is easy to learn. If you are new to programming, Swift is a great language to start with. It is concise and readable, and it has a friendly and welcoming community.
• It’s powerful. Despite its simplicity, Swift is a very powerful language. It is used by some of the biggest tech companies in the world, such as Apple, Facebook, and Twitter.

If you are looking for a language to use for your next project, Swift is an excellent choice. It is safe, fast, easy to learn, and powerful.

Read on: Agile Software Development: Definition, Manifesto, Framework, And Benefits.

Ruby

Yes, Ruby is still quite popular. While it may not be as widely used as some of the other major programming languages, it still has a strong following and is used by many large companies. Additionally, the Ruby on Rails framework is still quite popular and is used by many web developers.

Lua

Lua is widely used for its high performance and productivity. Many companies use Lua to create large application software. For example, Adobe uses Lua in Photoshop Lightroom and Adobe After Effects, while Android uses Lua in its game development platform.

Lua is also used in many popular video games. Games such as World of Warcraft, Angry Birds, and Diablo III use Lua for game scripting.

Lua has a small footprint and can be easily embedded in applications. It has a simple syntax that is easy to learn. Lua is free and open source software distributed under the terms of the MIT license.

Lua is also used by many programming languages including C, Java, Python, and Perl. It is also used in applications such as Apache HTTP Server, Nginx, VLC media player, and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Which language is for you?

There are a few interesting trends in this year's rankings. Firstly, functional programming languages are on the rise. This is likely due to the popularity of big data and parallel computing, which require languages that can handle large amounts of data efficiently. Secondly, there is a continued move away from traditional object-oriented languages like Java and C++ towards newer languages that are easier to learn and use. This is likely due to the rise of mobile and web development, which require languages that are more concise and have less boilerplate code.

Finally, it's worth noting that the most popular languages tend to be those that are used in a lot of different places. This is because they are more likely to be adopted by new projects and developers. Python, for example, is popular not only in web development but also in data science, machine learning, and scientific computing. This makes it a good choice for developers who want to be able to work on a variety of projects.

In short, these are some of the ways you can gauge which programming languages are the most popular right now. The language that you choose to use and learn is down to your preference and desired job market, but hopefully this article can serve as reference for some good options to consider.