A programming language is a formal language that describes a series of commands for a computer to follow in order to carry out particular activities. It is used to create software applications and programs, as well as to manage and control computer systems. Each programming language has its own syntax, organization, and set of commands.
Most Popular Programming Languages –
- C
- Python
- C++
- Java
- SCALA
- C#
- R
- Ruby
- Go
- Swift
- JavaScript
Characteristics Of A Programming Language –
- A programming language must be uncomplicated, easy to learn and use, simple to understand, and human readable.
- Abstraction is a property that every programming language should have since it enables the development of complex structures, which improves usability.
- Always choose a portable programming language.
- The efficiency of a programming language must be high in order for it to be easily translated into machine code and for its execution to take up little memory.
- A programming language needs to be well organized and documented in order to be helpful for developing applications.
- A programming language must offer the tools required for the creation, maintenance, testing, and debugging of a programme.
- An integrated development environment should be provided by a programming language (IDE).
- A programming language needs to be semantically and syntactically consistent.
5 Major Types Of Programming Languages
Despite the fact that there are numerous ways to classify programming languages, five primary categories are frequently used. A few languages may fall under more than one category, so keep that in mind:
Procedural Programming Languages
A procedural language carries out a set of declarations or instructions to achieve the desired outcome. There will be one or more procedures in a programme written in one of these languages. A procedure is a group of related steps. Common instances of procedural language include:
- C and C++
- Java
- Pascal
- BASIC
Functional Programming Languages
Functional languages put less emphasis on statement execution and more on the outcomes of mathematical operations and assessments. Each function, which is a reusable code module, completes a certain task and generates a result. The result will change based on the data you enter into the function. Functional programming languages that are commonly used include:
- Scala
- Erlang
- Haskell
- Elixir
- F#
Object-Oriented Programming Languages
According to this type of language, a programme is a group of objects made up of data and programme elements, or procedures and attributes. Objects can be used again and again within programmes and in other applications. Because of this, it is a recommended language type for challenging projects because code can be reused and scaled more readily. Popular languages for object-oriented programming
(OOP) include the ones listed below:
- Java
- Python
- PHP
- C++
- Ruby
Scripting Languages
Programmers handle dynamic web content, automate time-consuming procedures, and support the processes of larger applications using scripting languages.
Scripting languages that are widely used include:
- PHP
- Ruby
- Python
- bash
- Perl
- Node.js
5. Logic Programming Languages
Instead of telling the computer what to do, a logic programming language expresses a set of facts and rules that give it guidance on how to make judgments. Examples of logic language include:
- Prolog
- Absys
- Datalog
- Alma-0
Conclusion
These are only a few of the numerous programming languages that are now accessible. The intricacy of the task, the desired performance, and the developer’s personal tastes are some of the criteria that determine the ideal language for a given project.
The future of the digital world will continue to be greatly influenced by programming languages, regardless of the language that is chosen.