Top 20 programming languages

The language of web pages, also run on servers through Node.js

Best for Interactive web pages, plus servers and tools through Node.jsYou give up Only 42.0% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

The standard language for asking questions of, and changing, data stored in database tables

Best for Reading and changing data in tables (rows and columns) inside a databaseYou give up Rows come back in no set order unless you sort them; 51.4% of users want to keep it

General-purpose language used for web, data, science, scripting and teaching

Best for Web, data and science work, scripting, teaching, and software and game toolsYou give up Only about half of current users (50.6%) want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

The command line of Linux and Mac; scripts chain commands together to automate tasks

Best for Automating the command line: running commands and small scripts on servers and PCsYou give up Only 48.1% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

JavaScript with added labels for data types, so editors can catch mistakes early

Best for Larger JavaScript projects in browsers, Node.js, Deno and BunYou give up Usually converted to plain JavaScript before it runs, an extra build step

Long-standing language for business back ends, run by the Java virtual machine

Best for Large business (enterprise) applications and back-end servicesYou give up Needs the JDK toolkit and runs in a virtual machine; 38.5% of users want to keep it

Microsoft's main language for the .NET platform: web, desktop, phone and cloud apps

Best for Apps on .NET: web back ends (ASP.NET Core), desktop, phone and cloudYou give up In one 2026 AI coding test, a model scored 57% in C#, against about 70% in most others

Microsoft's command line and scripting language for managing computers, on Windows, Linux and Mac

Best for Automating system admin tasks and build, test and deploy stepsYou give up Only 31.5% of users want to keep using it, the lowest of these 20 (Stack Overflow 2026)

Fast, long-lived language for systems, embedded and other speed-critical software

Best for Systems code, embedded devices, and apps where speed per watt mattersYou give up The C++ FAQ says it takes 6 to 12 months to become broadly proficient

Small, old language close to the hardware; much other software is built on it

Best for Systems programming: low-level code close to the hardwareYou give up A bad pointer (a memory address) can crash the program; 45.9% of users want to keep it

Fast systems language whose rules prevent many memory bugs before the program runs

Best for Command-line tools, network services, WebAssembly and small embedded devicesYou give up In one 2026 AI coding test, a model scored 48% in Rust, against 74% in Python

Server-side language mixed into web pages to build websites

Best for Web development: code on the server builds the HTML pages visitors seeYou give up Only 35.7% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Simple, fast language from Google for servers and cloud tools

Best for Cloud and network services, command-line tools, web apps and DevOps toolsYou give up Only 49.5% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Concise language from JetBrains for Android, cross-platform and server apps; works with Java

Best for Android and cross-platform apps, plus server back endsYou give up Only 43.1% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Small scripting language built into other programs, especially games

Best for Scripting inside games and other apps written in C, C++ and moreYou give up Built to be embedded in another program; 40.8% want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Human-readable form of a processor's own instructions; the lowest level most people code at

Best for Very low-level code: boot code, drivers and hand-tuned speed-critical partsYou give up Only 48.3% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Apple's language for iPhone, Mac and other Apple apps; also runs on Linux and Windows

Best for Apps for Apple devices, plus cloud services and small embedded devicesYou give up Only 48.5% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Flexible scripting language best known for the Ruby on Rails web framework

Best for Web apps with Ruby on Rails, and scriptingYou give up In one 2026 AI coding test, a model scored 49% in Ruby, against 74% in Python

Google's language behind Flutter, for building one app for phone, desktop and web

Best for Flutter apps for mobile, desktop and web, plus some back endsYou give up Only 42.3% of current users want to keep using it (Stack Overflow 2026)

Language for statistics, data analysis and charts

Best for Statistics: modelling, tests, time series, clustering, and chartsYou give up Heavy number crunching is handed to C, C++ or Fortran code; 40.7% of users want to keep it