Learning to code is a prerequisite for anyone pursuing a career in computer sciences. It can be a time-consuming process, especially if you’ve never tried coding before or have only worked with basic HTML tags. It’s important to choose the right code to commit to, so here’s a list of the most in-demand languages right now.
Python
Python tops the list not only as the programing language of the moment, but also the future. Its wide applicability for “future tech” like artificial intelligence means that it will play a big part in the next era of computer science. Specialists in the Python language can expect high salaries and excellent career opportunities. This isn’t a language that will be going out of date any time soon, so it might be considered a safe bet to commit to.
Better still, Python is easy to learn. It uses fairly simple syntax and has a vast library of toolkits, making it accessible to the uninitiated. Aside from artificial intelligence it’s also used in data science, financial services and is extremely popular among tech startup companies. The only drawback is that it can’t be used to develop mobile applications. Even so, Python is here to stay and it’s only going to grow more prominent. If you’re hoping to future-proof your coding skills, this is the place to look.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a complex proposition. Tales of its demise are greatly exaggerated and it’s still one of the most popular coding languages on the internet, but there are drawbacks. Some browsers disable Javascript as standard and it’s sometimes used to generate malicious popups. This has given it somewhat of a bad reputation. Nonetheless, JavaScript is the backbone of the internet. It powers everything from games to communication platforms, so it’s incredibly varied.
The chances are you’ve used JavaScript at least once today already. Even sports betting sites use it to run their sportsbooks, so if you’ve ever indulged in soccer or baseball betting you’ve probably done so via JavaScript. It maintains the interfaces and interactivity of complex sites like sportsbooks, but is surprisingly easy to learn and a great place for beginners to start. JavaScript has a low entry level so there are plenty of Java hobbyists who tinker with the language in their spare time.
HTML
Most people have at least dabbled with HTML at some point in their lives. HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language, which just means that it controls the formatting and layout of websites. That includes everything from positioning line breaks, italicizing text and setting paragraph indents. HTML is a foundational language. If you’ve ever used tags like <br> or <b>, then you’ve already got some experience with it.
The beauty of HTML lies in its simplicity and wide ranging applicability. From blogs to online shops, travel websites and everything in between, HTML remains the formatting backbone. It’s limited in that it can only describe objects and their positions (so it can’t be used to develop games or mobile applications), but that doesn’t make it any less valuable. Since HTML dictates the way websites and content appear, it’s a language that won’t be nearing obsolescence anytime soon.