The world of computer programming used to be a mysterious and exclusive place. In the past, only a select few people were considered computer programmers with cutting-edge coding skills. IT jobs require solid knowledge of the top programming languages, and yes, we mean more than one.
If you wish to advance your career or change careers completely, you may wonder which programming language you should learn. To learn the language, you will need time and money, so you want to make the right choice.
You should consider several factors when making your decision, including the degree of difficulty you are willing to tackle, what programming language knowledge you already possess that meshes with your existing coding skills, or the reasons for learning a top programming language.
Learn the right programming language if you want to develop a mobile application, get certified for programming knowledge, or learn new skills. Here are the top programming languages that employers will demand in 2024. It will be explained to you how each language works, its complexity, and how it is used.
What is a Programming language?
A programming language is a formal language used to create software programs that communicate with computers. Programmers write algorithms and commands to control the physical and logical behavior of machines with instructions. The programmer and the machine communicate so that the programmer can specify which data must be implemented, how the data should be stored or transmitted, and what actions the software should take depending on the situation.
Programs are written in high-level programming languages, such as C, C++, C#, Java, Python, Perl, etc.
Programming languages have evolved to meet the needs of systems and applications over the years. Modern features of the evolved languages give us more power and flexibility to handle the complex tasks innovation and new information and communication technologies (ICT) require.
To perform their functions, all machines and devices require programming languages. Developers who are aware of the limitations, constraints, and features of a programming language may choose the language based on their preferences or abilities, which may improve efficiencies and enable a developer to achieve goals faster.
A Programming Language: How Does It Work?
You now know what a programming language is. Now let’s take a look at how it works.
Each programming language has its syntax. As the name implies, syntax describes the structure of a language, i.e., how symbols are combined correctly so that a computer system can understand them. A computer program is created by organizing a set of instructions according to the syntax of a programming language.
A computer program must be compiled, where the instructions written in programming languages are converted into machine code (0s and 1s). The computer system interprets the machine code and performs the required actions. The computer system converts any information produced by executing these instructions into a form humans can understand.
See More: What is Web Development
Types of programming language
In general, programming languages can be divided into two categories: low-level programming languages and high-level programming languages. High-level languages are more complex than low-level languages, despite being simpler than human languages. However, a high-level language allows for greater readability than a low-level language that requires special expertise in computer architecture.
1. Low-level programming language
A low-level language is a machine-dependent (0s and 1s) programming language. Low-level programs are run directly by the processor without the need for a compiler or interpreter, so they are very fast to run.
The low-level language is further divided into two categories:
- Machine Language
A machine language is a low-level programming language. It is also known as machine code or object code. Because machine language is usually displayed in binary or hexadecimal form (base 16), it is easier to read.
A translator is not required to convert the programs because computers can understand machine language directly.
Machine language is advantageous because it allows the programmer to execute programs more quickly than high-level programming languages.
- Assembly Language
Assembler language (ASM) is also a low-level language designed for specific processors. It represents a set of instructions in a symbolic and human-understandable way. An assembler converts assembly language into machine language.
Assembly language has the advantage of requiring less memory and less time to execute programs.
2. High-level programming language
The purpose of high-level programming languages (HLL) is to create user-friendly programs and websites. To execute this programming language, you need a compiler or interpreter that can translate the program into machine language.
A high-level language has the advantage of being easy to read, write, and maintain.
The high-level programming languages include Python, Java, JavaScript, PHP, C#, C++, Objective C, Cobol, Perl, Pascal, LISP, FORTRAN, and Swift.
The high-level language is further divided into three parts:
- Procedural Oriented programming language
POP is a procedural programming language derived from structured programming and based on procedure calls. The program is divided into small procedures called routines or functions.
A procedural-oriented programming language is used by software programmers to create computer programs using a programming editor such as an IDE, Adobe Dreamweaver, or Microsoft Visual Studio. POP language has the advantage of making it easier for programmers to track the program flow, and it allows code to be reused.
- Object-Oriented Programming language
An object-oriented programming language (OOP) is based on objects. An object-oriented programming language divides programs into smaller pieces called objects. The purpose of this is to make the program reusable, efficient, and easy to use by implementing real-world entities such as inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction, etc.
Object-oriented programming has the advantage of being faster and easier to maintain, modify, and debug than traditional programming.
- Natural language
Languages such as English, Russian, German, and Japanese are examples of natural languages. This technology allows machines to translate, manipulate, and interpret human language.
A developer can use it to perform tasks such as translation, automatic summarization, named entity recognition (NER), relationship extraction, and topic segmentation.
Natural language is a powerful tool for asking questions about any subject and getting instant answers.
How to become a programmer?
The first step is to choose your specialization and career path
There are three categories of specializations.
- Front end development
They design, build, and manage all customer-facing features of your website, such as menus, color schemes, content, and interactivity. CSS, HTML, and JavaScript are typically their specialties.
- Backend development
Back-end developers are responsible for the parts of a website that are invisible to visitors (also called server-side). Managing database interactions, site speed, and library creation are all part of this process. Programming languages such as Java and Python are required.
- Full stack development
Full-stack developers are familiar with both front-end and back-end development. Besides being creative and tech-savvy, they are also graphic-savvy. Programming languages such as SQL, AngularJS, CSS, and Polymer are essential.
Step 2: Learn a Programming languages
It is most common to learn a programming language with a computer science degree or certification. You can also learn programming languages through online courses, boot camps, and online courses. Do you want to know how a coding bootcamp differs from a bachelor’s degree?
The university’s four-year computer programming program provides students with theoretical and practical knowledge. On the other hand, boot camps are designed with a more direct career goal in mind. The crash courses prepare learners for employment in months instead of years by providing them with functional skills.
Step 3: Develop hard and soft skills
A good computer programmer has both technical and soft skills. A solid understanding of data structures, source control, algorithms, and problem-solving skills is required.
Step 4: Build your portfolio
The strength of one’s portfolio improves one’s employability. Contribute to open source projects, leverage relevant university projects, or display your curated work. Open source projects are another great way to expand your programming portfolio. You can connect with developers working on the kinds of projects you’re interested in by joining an open-source platform (Github is a popular choice for newbies).
Step 5: Connect with others in your industry
Identify your area of expertise and seek advice from industry experts and experienced programmers.
Step 6: Find an Internship
Technical internships can enhance your skill set and help you become a more accomplished computer programmer.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, all programming languages share some features without surrendering their identities. Although all languages aim to direct digital processes toward desired outcomes, some excel in their niche while others are more generalist. To solve an elaborate problem, such as implementing an integration project, finding a suitable programming language is the first step.
Do you still have questions about your IT integrations? Contact us, and we’ll help you find the answers! Our experts can guide you through the process of selecting the right technology and formulating a solid integration strategy that meets your business needs.
