5 Types of Programming Languages

Programming is a skill that is becoming increasingly sought after in the job market. Having at least a basic understanding of how software functions is helpful for anyone who interacts with technology. With a background in programming, you can get a job coding, designing software, data architecture, or creating intuitive user interfaces. 

But what programming language should you learn? You'll find a seemingly infinite number of programming languages that are free to learn and develop projects with online. With the field of technology growing exponentially each year, the internet is a great place to start when trying to explore the latest developments or discover a new skill. 

In this article, we'll explore some of the most common types of programming languages and give you some resources you can use to start learning.

Python is one of the most popular programming languages used today. Learn to program and analyze Data with Python in the University of Michigan's Python for Everybody Specialization.

5 major types of programming languages

While you'll find dozens of ways to classify various programming languages, they generally fall into five major categories. Keep in mind that some languages may fall under more than one type:

1. Procedural programming languages

A procedural language follows a sequence of statements or commands in order to achieve a desired output. Each series of steps is called a procedure, and a program written in one of these languages will have one or more procedures within it. Common examples of procedural languages include:

• C and C++

• Java

• Pascal

• BASIC

C++ is a great programming language to learn if you're also interested in learning more about how computers function. While it may not be as readable as other high-level programming languages like Python, it can still be beginner-friendly. You can give it a try for free by enrolling in Codio's introductory online program, Programming in C++: A Hands-on Introduction Specialization. After a month, you'll have created and ran your first program in C++.

2. Functional programming languages

Rather than focusing on the execution of statements, functional languages focus on the output of mathematical functions and evaluations. Each function–a reusable module of code–performs a specific task and returns a result. The result will vary depending on what data you input into the function. Some popular functional programming languages include:

• Scala

• Erlang

• Haskell

• Elixir

• F#

3. Object-oriented programming languages (OOP)

This type of language treats a program as a group of objects composed of data and program elements, known as attributes and methods. Objects can be reused within a program or in other programs. This makes it a popular language type for complex programs, as code is easier to reuse and scale. Some common object-oriented languages include:

• Java

• Python

• PHP

• C++

• Ruby

Free Python tutorials

If you're teaching yourself Python but you're not yet ready to commit to an online course or program, you might consider bookmarking some of the following tutorials:

• How to Use For Loops in Python: Step-By-Step

• How to Use Python Break

• How to Write and Use Python While Loops

• Python Loops Cheat Sheet

4. Scripting languages

Programmers use scripting languages to automate repetitive tasks, manage dynamic web content, or support processes in larger applications. Some common scripting languages include:

• PHP

• Ruby

• Python

• bash

• Perl

• Node.js

Linux operating system is the primary choice for those who prefer open-source software [1]. Familiarizing yourself with Linux can be useful for someone who is interested in learning scripting languages.

5. Logic programming languages

Instead of telling a computer what to do, a logic programming language expresses a series of facts and rules to instruct the computer on how to make decisions. Some examples of logic languages include:

• Prolog

• Absys

• Datalog

• Alma-0

Professional programming insights

Whichever language you learn, you may find it helpful to take notes or draw diagrams detailing the steps you're taking and why. It's important for programmers to be able to communicate their process to non-technical stakeholders, but taking notes can also be a great learning tool.

"Turns out this often comes in handy not only for the sake of creating documentation, but often helps in solving a single task or issue where the underlying tech is challenging to understand," offers Eric Hartzog, a software engineer at Meta.

You can learn software engineering from Meta staff by enrolling in one of their online courses or certificate programs. For example, the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate focuses on JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

Other ways to classify programming languages

You'll find many more ways to categorize languages beyond the five listed above. Let's take a closer look at there other ways you can think about programming languages:

Front-end vs. back-end languages

Front-end languages are primarily concerned with the ‘user’ aspect of the software. The front end deals with all of the text, colors, buttons, images, and navigation that the user will face when navigating your website or application. Anyone with a background in graphic design or art may be more inspired to begin learning one of the front-end languages. 

Some examples of front-end programming languages include: 

• HTML 

• CSS 

• JavaScript 

• React 

Back-end languages deal with storage and manipulation of the server side of software. This is the part of the software that the user does not directly come into contact with but supports their experience behind the scenes. This includes data architecture, scripting, and communication between applications and underlying databases. 

Anyone with experience in mathematics or engineering may find more interest in back-end development.

Some examples of back-end programming languages include:

• JavaScript

• PHP

• Java

• Python

• Ruby

• C#

A full-stack developer combines their knowledge of both front- and back-end languages, along with other technical skills and expertise, to work on any part of the development process.

High-level vs. low-level languages

The biggest factor that differentiates high- and low-level programming languages is whether the language is meant to be easily understood by a human programmer or a computer. Low-level languages are machine-friendly, which makes them highly efficient in terms of memory usage but difficult to understand without the help of an assembler. Since they're not very people-friendly because they don't use human language, they're also not widely used to code. Examples of these machine languages include machine code, binary code, and assembly languages.

High-level languages, on the other hand, are less memory efficient but much more human-friendly. This programming style makes it easier to write, understand, maintain, and debug. Most popular programming languages in use today are considered high-level languages. 

Interpreted vs. compiled languages

The distinction between interpreted and compiled languages has to do with how they convert high-level code and make it readable by a computer. With interpreted languages, code goes through a program called an interpreter, which reads and executes the code line by line. This tends to make these languages more flexible and platform independent.

Examples of interpreted languages include:

• Python

• JavaScript

• PHP

• Ruby

Compiled languages go through a build step where the entire program is converted into machine code. This makes it faster to execute, but it also means that you have to compile or "build" the program again anytime you need to make a change.

Examples of compiled languages include:

• C, C++, and C#

• Rust

• Erlang

Markup language

Often, markup languages such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) are classified as programming languages. Technically, markup languages are not considered to be the same as programming languages. Instead, they are text-encoding systems made up of symbols that control the formatting and structure of content on a page or document.

Read more: HTML Projects to Help You Launch Your Career

Start programming today on Coursera

Learning to program is easier now than ever. Whether you're just starting out or already have a couple of programming languages under your belt, Coursera has something for you:

To learn the basics of Python, try the University of Michigan's Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) course. In this beginner-friendly course, you'll learn how to install Python, write your first program, and use core programming tools like functions and loops. Plus, upon completion, you'll be a step closer to completing the popular Python for Everybody Specialization.

For front-end languages like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, consider enrolling in Microsoft's Front-End Developer Professional Certificate. There, you'll learn to develop strong coding skills by applying programming techniques to build interactive features.

To advance your IT career with programming, explore Google's IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate. Here, you'll learn how to automate tasks by writing Python scripts, managing IT resources on physical and virtual machines, and using Git and GitHub for version control.