What are the Best Coding Languages?

Apologies for the click-baity title. We know it’s not really possible to rank the “best” coding languages, because languages are like tools. You can’t use a hammer to fell a tree, and you’ll have a hard time nailing boards together with a chainsaw. You need the right tool for the right job, but preference also comes into play. 

Sometimes two tools are equally suitable for the task at hand, but if you (or the boss) have always preferred one over the other, then you’ll likely stick to that!  

All terrible trade-related analogies aside, we know that questions about coding languages are ones that you want answered, so here, we’re going to try our best. 

The Most Used Languages According to Stack Overflow

The results of the 2024 Stack Overflow Survey are in, and developers around the world are taking note. 

Over 65,000 developers from 185 countries gave their thoughts on coding, the technologies and tools they use and wish to learn, and their experiences in the workplace. 

“Javascript (62%), HTML/CSS (53%), and Python (51%) top the list of most used languages for the second year in a row,” the 2024 survey summary states. “Javascript is a long-time mainstay for Stack Overflow users, it has been the most popular language every year since the inception of the Developer Survey in 2011.” 

According to the survey, Python overtook JavaScript as the most desired language this year, and Python was also found to be the most popular language for learners. 

Stack Overflow’s Most “Admired and Desired”

1. Python
2. JavaScript
3. SQL
4. HTML/CSS
5. TypeScript

Language Rankings from HackerRank

The 2024 Developer Skills Report from HackerRank gave a similar view of the popularity of many languages as the Stack Overflow report, however, there were differences. 

While the Stack Overflow survey looks into the languages developers use daily, and the most popular languages on their wishlists, HackerRank looks at the wishlists of recruiters, finding that, “Java and Python remain the top languages recruiters are looking for”. 

HackerRank’s Top Languages for Recruiter Demand

1. Java
2. Python
3. C++
4. SQL
5. C#

The Most In-Demand Languages on SEEK

Looking a little closer to home, SEEK has some insights for job searchers. Mining data from the languages listed in job postings, the SEEK line-up of languages gives an interesting insight into key skills for Australian developers. 

Knowing what recruiters are looking for can help job seekers to plan their next move, whether that’s through upskilling, or targeting the roles that are best suited to their expertise. 

In-Demand Languages for Full Stack Developers

Along with tools and frameworks, SEEK listed the following languages as being amongst the most in-demand for full stack developer roles. 

• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• CSS
• C#
• HTML

Languages You’ll Learn in a Coder Academy Web Development Bootcamp

Coder Academy’s bootcamps offer a unique combination of academic rigour and practical skills to get you job-ready. The languages taught within our Australian Higher Education Diploma of Web Development have a dual purpose. They’re some of the most popular amongst junior developers, and the delivery method is designed to teach you how to learn new coding skills efficiently.

By building on each new language, framework and tech stack, and completing projects along the way, our students discover how to pick up project-specific languages, and to switch between the languages of different code bases or projects as needed. 

Languages You’ll Learn in a Web Development Bootcamp

• Python
• JavaScript
• HTML
• CSS
• SQL

How to Pick the Best Coding Language to Learn

We hope you enjoyed learning a little more about the languages other developers are using and loving. Of course, just because a language didn’t make one of these lists doesn’t mean it isn’t worth learning. 

Learning any language will help you to learn others, and to make the most of code libraries and other tools.  

Katie Wilson, early careers specialist at Mantel Group, had this advice for Coder Academy students applying for jobs and preparing for interviews.

“When you’re starting out, we don’t expect you to be a guru in every language,” Katie said.

“What we look for is actually your ability to think and solve problems, and talk through your method.”

So whether you’re looking to learn your first coding language or your twentieth, feel free to use this list as a guide, but don’t despair if your favourite coding language didn’t make the cut. Programming languages will continue to rise and fall in popularity, and the most important thing is to always be a lifelong learner.