Programming is one of the most intriguing, challenging ventures out there. Today, more and more people want to learn a coding language and explore programming as a career. There are lots of programming courses offered, but the first step is to learn the best programming languages for beginners. Coding isn’t all that easy, so it requires a strong foundation.
You’ve probably heard about some of the most popular programming languages for beginners, like Python and Java. Below is a comprehensive list of the best programming languages to learn for beginners. We also cover various applications of each language so you can decide the best one for you. The following steps should help kickstart a career in programming.
What is Programming?
Programming is the process of instructing a computer to perform or automate tasks. Programmers use particular languages that computers understand. Computers have a more complex and syntactic way of comprehending instructions, and that is supplied through programming languages.
What are Programming Languages?
Programming languages are sets of artificial, detailed instructions computers can understand. Many programming languages are essential in developing software programs, code, and scripts. Languages facilitate communication between a programmer and a computer to carry out tasks. Programming languages have different sets of special syntax and levels of complexity.
What Programming Languages Do Beginners Use?
Some popular programming languages for beginners to use are Python, Java, and C. These programming languages are used in a wide variety of applications like artificial intelligence, data science, automation, mobile operating systems, web development, financial services, video game consoles, and more.
Best Programming Languages to Learn for Beginners
- Python
- Java
- JavaScript
- C
- C#
- C++
Which Programming Language Is Best for Beginners?
Python
Python is a popular language implemented by Guido van Rossum to build software applications, automate tasks, and conduct data analysis. With its flexibility and user-friendly interface, a beginner programmer can quickly learn it and use it on many tasks. Many non-programmers like scientists and accountants use Python to carry out regular tasks such as organizing finances.
Python is a functional programming language perfect for data visualization tasks like bar and line graphs, histograms, and charts. Software developers also find it versatile to develop machine-learning algorithms and complex statistical computing. According to the TIOBE Index, Python is the most popular programming language for developers.
Java
Java is another reliable, easy-to-learn, general-purpose programming language. Initially designed for digital mobile devices, it soon shifted its focus to Internet use. Programmers use Java to create animated web pages and provide interactivity.
Java suits beginners because of its simplicity in offering the fundamentals of programming. Java was inspired by the powerful language C++, but Java is simpler and improved. It is also one of the most secure programming languages that beginners can start exploring.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a powerful scripting language used for controlling multimedia, updating content, animating images, and more. It is the third layer of the standard technologies, following HTML and CSS, and is considered a popular choice for object oriented programming. JavaScript is engineered to produce network-centric applications and doesn’t require many tools to start.
JavaScript is a good choice for beginners because of its merits. It promotes less server interaction and offers a solid foundation to understand the principles of computer science. Programmers can use it on front end web development and backend development, which, once mastered, could level up a programming career.
C
C is a high-level programming language created to develop software like databases, operating systems, compilers, and more. C programming language utilizes blocks to separate code, making it cleaner for beginners and easier to learn. Programmers use this language in robotics, automation, and computers for PC games.
Programming languages have three levels, including low-level languages, mid-level languages, and high-level languages. C programming languages belong to the mid-level language family, which offers more straightforward coding and faster program processing.
C#
C# is a modern programming language that caters to almost any skill level, even a beginner. C# is widely used to produce desktop applications, mobile apps, websites, cloud-based services, games, and for enterprise development. It is a versatile language for beginners that is easy to read and write.
C# is software developer-friendly because it is statistically typed. This means programmers can detect errors before their application goes live. It’s a great tool to take advantage of to detect even the most minor coding flaws.
C++
C++ is a high-level programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup of Bell Laboratories. It is used in real-world applications like movie production, science exploration, search engines, air travel, IoT devices, game development, and more. C++ can directly build huge applications and software infrastructure with limited resources.
Similar to the programming language C, C++ is straightforward to use and portable. Users can run or even write code on another operating system without issue because C++ is a platform-independent language.
Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?
Python is one of the highly recommended beginner languages because it’s easily understandable. Users will also learn programming fundamentals without needing to obsess over the tiny details that hundreds of programming languages demand. Python can be used for web development, software development, and graphic user interfaces tasks.
Is it Possible to Choose the ‘Wrong’ Programming Language?
No, there is no “wrong” programming language. Every coding language is powerful and has something to offer. However, one must weigh the pros and cons before proceeding. Programmers should also keep an eye on what they want to explore in the future to write a project in the optimal language.
Some projects require a specific programming language, and some languages don’t work well in other areas. Beginners are probably best at starting with a simple programming language before they explore more complex languages.
How to Learn Programming
Now that you have the rundown of the best programming languages for beginners, it’s time to learn how to get started. You’ll need to know how to put yourself in a position to start right away. It’s not enough to know the most popular programming languages for beginners. Instead, you should see how you can keep up. Below are the steps to follow to begin your tech journey.
Step 1: Learn and Understand Programming Fundamentals
The first step is to understand the basics of programming. Programmers need to know the specific programming language to use for each project. Users can strengthen their knowledge of fundamental coding concepts like data types, variables, functions, if statements, arrays, lists, conditional loops, classes and objects, trees, maps, and exception handling.
Step 2: Find Resources
One helpful way to find resources is through interactive websites and online coding courses. Some websites offer interactive coding sessions that help set up the development environment and harness a real programming experience. Users will enjoy using online text editors and compilers with interactive websites. Video tutorials are another type of rich resource.
Step 3: Start a Small Project
Programming works best when applied, and building a personal project is great practice. Beginners can decide whether to create a simple video game, a to-do list website, and more. Doing this can help users to analyze what they have learned and practically apply it to the project. Experience is the best teacher, and this is where many gain confidence in their abilities.
Step 4: Land an Internship
Beginners who are confident enough in their programming abilities should add an internship to their career goals. Many coding bootcamps offer internships that step up the development of a beginner’s career. In this stage, it’s a wise choice to focus on skill development. Whether a paid or unpaid internship, what’s important is gaining real-life experience in the field.
How to Learn Programming: Top Resources
- MDN Web Docs. A unified place for documentation of open web standards and a rich learning resource for web developers.
- freeCodeCamp. A non-profit organization with a learning web platform that promotes a friendly community with chat rooms, forums, and online publications beginners might find helpful.
- Aquent Gymnasium. A free digital-learning platform with access to articles, tutorial videos, webinars, and programming exams.
- Stack Overflow. A public online community for beginners and professional developers to share questions and answers about programming.
- MIT OpenCourseWare. A platform founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where users can find legitimate free digital-learning materials about programming.
Ready to Break into Tech?
Jumping into programming demands commitment. Before beginning, prospective programmers need to choose a programming language to focus on. Finding and organizing resources ahead of time is also crucial. The Internet holds tons of online resources about programming.
Once you are ready to ignite your programming career, it’s time to get some equipment and maintain the momentum. Learn and work until you’re confident in your programming abilities, which could lead you to more significant opportunities such as learning a more complicated, difficult language.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Best Programming Languages for Beginners FAQ
Python is the recommended programming language for beginners. It is easier to read and write and easier to maintain than any other language. Newbie programmers can also use Python for a wide range of applications.
Python is better than C++ if you’re a beginner. The latter tends to have more extensive lines of code and a steep learning curve, while the former promotes the opposite. Python is also a little more easily remembered than C++ because of its simple syntax. In terms of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks, Python has a more extensive library.
Python is the primary programming language of many developers. It is also currently trending, so expect to grow with this language. Python can facilitate data science and artificial intelligence, which is foreseeable in the future, so attending one of the best machine learning bootcamps would provide a leg up as well.
Python is the programming language of choice because it is easy to deploy. It’s also used to develop large-scale applications for popular platforms such as Pinterest, Youtube, SurveyMonkey, and Instagram. Because the digital world keeps expanding, expect more companies to seek developers who can build huge applications.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
