What are Computer Programming Languages?

Computer programming languages allow us to give instructions to a computer in a language the

computer understands. Just as many human-based languages exist, there are an array of computer
programming languages that programmers can use to communicate with a computer. The portion
of the language that a computer can understand is called a “binary.” Translating programming
language into binary is known as “compiling.” Each language, from C Language to Python, has
its own distinct features, though many times there are commonalities between programming
languages.

These languages allow computers to quickly and efficiently process large and complex swaths of
information. For example, if a person is given a list of randomized numbers ranging from one to
ten thousand and is asked to place them in ascending order, chances are that it will take a sizable
amount of time and include some errors.

There are dozens of programming languages used in the industry today. We’ve compiled
overviews of the 12 most important, relevant and in-demand of these languages below.

Python
Who uses it?

Python is an advanced programming language that is interpreted, object-oriented and built on

flexible and robust semantics. Professions and Industries:

Python developers, software engineers, back end developers, Python programmers

Used by employers in information technology, engineering, professional services and

design Major Organizations:

Google, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, DropBox, NASA, ESRI

Specializations and Industries:

Web and Internet development (frameworks, micro-frameworks and advanced content

management systems); scientific and numeric computing; desktop graphical user interfaces
(GUIs)

What makes learning it important?

Python lets you work quickly to integrate systems as a scripting or glue language. It’s also
suited for Rapid Application Develop (RAD).
• The game Civilization 4 has all its inner logic, including AI, implemented in
Python. • NASA uses Python in its Integrated Planning System as a standard
scripting language. • Features:
o Simple to learn and easily read
o Associated web frameworks for developing web-based applications
o Free interpreter and standard library available in source or binary on major

platforms Where did it start?

Python was developed in the late 1980s at CWI in the Netherlands and first released to the
public in 1991.

Java

Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented, high-level programming language with several

features that make it ideal for web-based development.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o Software engineers, Java developers
o Used by employers in communications, education, finance, health sciences,
hospitality, retail and utilities
• Major Organizations: V2COM, Eclipse Information Technologies, eBay, Eurotech •
Specializations and Industries: Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Architecture,
Cloud Computing

What makes learning it important?

Java is used to develop enterprise-level applications for video games and mobile apps, as well as
to create web-based applications with JSP (Java Server Pages). When used online, Java allows
applets to be downloaded and used through a browser, which can then perform a function not
normally available.

• Programs that use or are written in Java include Adobe Creative Suite, Eclipse, Lotus
Notes, Minecraft and OpenOffice.
• Java is the core foundation for developing Android apps.
• Features:
o Application portability
 o Robust and interpreted language
o Extensive network library
Where did it start?

Originally known as Oak, Java was developed in 1990 at Sun Microsystems to add capabilities
to the C++ language. Java was developed according to the principle of WORA (Write Once Run
Anywhere). The language was introduced to the public in 1995 and is now owned by Oracle.

Ruby/Ruby on Rails

Ruby is an open-sourced, object-oriented scripting language that can be used independently or as

part of the Ruby on Rails web framework.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o Ruby on Rails developers, software engineers, data science engineers
o Used by employers in technology, engineering, professional services, design,
science and quality control
• Major Organizations: Github, Scribd, Groupon, NASA Langley Research Center, Blue
Sequence (part of Toyota Motor Manufacturing), Motorola, Google (SketchUp) •
Specializations and Industries: Web App Development, Robotics, Networking, System
Administration and Security

What makes learning it important?

Ruby is used for simulations, 3D modeling, and to manage and track information.

• Basecamp, Amazon, Twitter and Groupon were all created using Ruby on Rails. •
NASA uses Ruby to conduct simulations.
• Features:
o Free to use, copy, modify and distribute
o Intuitive and flexible language
o Completely object-oriented (ability to use method chaining)

Where did it start?

Designed in 1995, Ruby’s creator described it as “simple in appearance, but it is very complex
inside, just like our human body.”

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

HTML is the standard markup language used to create web pages; it ensures proper formatting of
text and images (using tags) so that Internet browsers can display them in the ways they were
intended to look.
Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o Web developers, technical editors, email designers, software engineers o Used by
employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional Services,
Management, Marketing, Customer Services and Sales
• Major Organizations: Apple, CyberCoders, Apex Systems, CareerBuilder •
Specializations and Industries Where HTML is Used Most: Web Development, Email
Programming

What makes learning it important?

HTML is used to create electronic documents (pages) displayed online. Visit any page and you
will see an example of HTML in action.

• The diversity and complexity in the structure and appearance of today’s sites is made
possible with HTML.
• Features:
o Easy to use and learn the basics of HTML
o Free and accessible
o Multiple versions available

Where did it start?

HTML was created by physicist Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 to allow scientists to share documents
online. Before then, all communication was sent using plain text. HTML made “rich” text
possible (i.e. text formatting and visual images).

JavaScript

JavaScript is a client-side programming language that runs inside a client browser and processes
commands on a computer rather than a server. It is commonly placed into an HTML or ASP file.
Despite its name, JavaScript is not related to Java.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o JavaScript developers, Web developers, software engineers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering,Design,
Marketing, Finance and Healthcare
• Major Organizations: WordPress, Soundcloud, Khan Academy, Linkedin, Groupon,
Yahoo and many others
• Specializations and Industries Where JavaScript is Used Most: Front End Website
Development, Gaming Development
What makes learning it important?
JavaScript is used primarily in Web development to manipulate various page elements and make
them more dynamic, including scrolling abilities, printing the time and date, creating a calendar
and other tasks not possible through plain HTML. It can also be used to create games and APIs.

• The agency Cyber-Duck in Britain uses public APIs, created with JavaScript, to pull in
data about crime and enables users to review a local area.
• Tweetmap, created by Pete Smart and Rob Hawkes using JavaScript, represents a world
map that is proportionally sized according to the number of tweets.
• Features:
o Basic features are easy to learn
o Multiple frameworks
o Users can reference JQuery, a comprehensive Javascript library

Where did it start?

JavaScript was designed by Netscape and originally known as LiveScript, before becoming
JavaScript in 1995.

C Language

C Language is a structure-oriented, middle-level programming language mostly used to develop

low-level applications.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o Software developers, computer engineers, business and systems analysts, IT and
Web content administrators, embedded software engineers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Management,
Healthcare and Professional Services
• Major Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Cisco, Raytheon
• Specializations and Industries Where C Language is Used Most: Embedded Systems,
Systems Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Automation, Computer
Graphics, Space Research, Image Processing and Game Programming

What makes learning it important?

C Language is used to develop systems applications that are integrated into operating systems
such as Windows, UNIX and Linux, as well as embedded softwares. Applications include
graphics packages, word processors, spreadsheets, operating system development, database
systems, compilers and assemblers, network drivers and interpreters.

• Facebook’s TAO systems is programmed mostly using C language.

• Most device drivers are still developed using C Language.
 • Features:
o Simple to learn; there are only 32 keywords to master
o Easy to write systems programs such as compilers and interpreters
o Foundational language for beginners

Where did it start?

The C Language was developed in 1972 at Bell Labs specifically for implementing the UNIX
system. It eventually gave rise to many advanced programming languages, including C++, Java
C#, JavaScript and Pearl.

C++

C++ is a general purpose, object-oriented, middle-level programming language and is an

extension of C language, which makes it possible to code C++ in a “C style”. In some situations,
coding can be done in either format, making C++ an example of a hybrid language.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o C++ software engineers, C++ software developers, embedded engineers,
programmer analysts
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Professional
Services, Design, Quality Control and Management
• Major Company and Organization Users: Google, Mozilla, Firefox, Winamp, Adobe
Software, Amazon, Lockheed Martin
• Specializations: System/Application Software, Drivers, Client-Server Applications,
Embedded Firmware

What makes learning it important?

The C++ language is used to create computer programs and packaged software, such as games,
office applications, graphics and video editors and operating systems.

• The Blackberry OS is developed using C++.

• The newest Microsoft Office suite was developed using C++.
• Features:
o Often the first programming language taught at college level
o Quick processing and compilation mechanism
o Robust standard library (STL)

Where did it start?

Released in 1983 and often considered an object-oriented version of C language, C++ was
created to compile lean, efficient code, while providing high-level abstractions to better manage
large development projects.
C#

Pronounced C-sharp (not C-hashtag), C# is a multi-paradigm programming language that

features strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented and
component-oriented disciplines.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o C# developers, automation test engineers, software engineers, senior .net Web
developers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional
Services, Management and Quality Control
• Major Organizations: Microsoft Intel, Hewlett Packard
• Specializations: Windows-based platforms

What makes learning it important?

C# helps developers create XML web services and Microsoft .NET-connected applications for
Windows operating systems and the internet.

• Used to develop a wide range of software applications that accompany Visual Studio
IDE.
• The only language used by the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). •
Features:
o Similar to Java in capabilities
o Ideal for beginners
o The go-to for working on Microsoft apps

Where did it start?

C# was developed in 2000 as part of Microsoft’s release of .NET framework; in 2003 it became
an ISO standard. C# was based off of C, C++, and Java languages.

Objective-C

Objective-C is a simple, general-purpose and object-oriented language. It uses a system of

message passing borrowed from the language Smalltalk; when an object in Objective-C is sent a
message, it can choose to ignore or forward to another object, rather than return a value.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o IT and Web content administrators, iOS and Android mobile developers, software
 engineers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Management,
Healthcare and Design
• Major Organizations: Apple, CyberCoders
• Specializations: Software development

What makes learning it important?

Objective-C is primarily used by developers to create apps for iOS and OS X.

• From everything to Twitter and Facebook to Wells Fargo and Mint, objective-C is the
most commonly used language to write programs for apple products.
• Features
o Increased flexibility with dynamic typing
o Often used alongside a framework such as Cocoa or Cocoa Touch
o Great first language for beginning programmers

Where did it start?

Objective-C was developed at Apple in 1983 to address deficiencies (specifically lack of object
orientation) in C language. It was licensed by NeXT in 1988.

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)

PHP is an open-source scripting language designed for creating dynamic web pages that
effectively work with databases. It is also used as a general-purpose programming
language.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o PHP developers, PHP software engineers
o Used across industries, to include InformationTechnology, Engineering, Design,
Professional Services, Healthcare, Management and Finance
• Major Organizations: Facebook, Yahoo, CyberCoders, NextGen
• Specializations Where PHP is Used Most: Web Application Development, Server-Side
Scripting, Command Line Scripting

What makes learning it important?

PHP is primarily used alongside dynamic data-heavy websites to collect form data. It’s also used
in app development to generate dynamic page content.

• PHP is part of the LAMP platform used by Facebook and Yahoo.

• Platforms such as Joomla, WordPress and Drupal use the PHP language. •
 Features:
o Easy to learn (as simple as embedding code inside HTML)
o Free and opensource
o Can be used on all major operating systems and web servers

Where did it start?

PHP was released in 1995 as a server-side scripting language, which is processed on a server to
become a website in plain HTML.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

SQL is a database query language (not a development language) that allows for adding,
accessing and managing content in a database. It is the language that allows programmers to
perform the common acronym CRUD (Create; Read; Update; Delete) within a database.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o SQL server developers, database testers, software developers, database
administrators
o Used across industries like Information Technology, Engineering, Design,
Management, Professional Servers, Business and Finance
• Major Organizations: SQL is used by most companies and organizations that gather
data. Examples include Robert Half Technology, Nigel Frank, CyberCoders and
UnitedHealthCare.
• Specializations Where SQL is Used Most: Data Analysis and Big Data Mining

What makes learning it important?

SQL interacts with the backend database of web application. It is the “de facto standard”
database language, always used in conjunction with another programming language. SQL
programs are implemented as a way for businesses and organizations to access and manipulate
information stored in their databases.

• Relationaldatabase management systems that use SQL include MySQL (by Oracle),
Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server and others.
• Features:
o Simple syntax
o Free and easily accessible

Where did it start?

SQL was developed at the IBM Research Center in 1974 and originally known as SEQUEL. The
first commercial version was introduced in 1979 by ORACLE.
Swift

Swift is Apple’s newest open-source, multi-paradigm programming language for iOS and OS X
apps. Swift integrates Objective-C’s named parameters and object-oriented model, while
including an advanced compiler, debugger and framework infrastructure.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:

o Swift Platform Developers,iOS Mobile Application Developers, Software
Developers, Senior Programmers, Data Engineers
o Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Management and Professional
Services
• Major Organizations: Apple, Getty Images, Slack, Dow Jones, Playlist Media •
Specializations Where Swift is Used Most: Software development

What makes learning it important?

Swift is primarily used by developers to create apps for iOS and OS X.

• Dow Jones is rewriting sections of its mobile Wall Street Journal app using Swift. •
Getty Images built its consumer-facing app, Stream, using Swift.
• Features:
o Supports ‘playgrounds,’ a feature that lets programmers experiment and see
immediate results
o Easy to understand syntax
o Ideal for writing production-ready code

Where did it start?

Swift, which is based off of the Objective-C programming language, was introduced at Apple’s
2014 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The newest version, Swift 2, was released as
an open-source language in 2015.

Sprite

A sprite is a bitmap graphic that is designed to be part of a larger scene. It can either be a static
image or an animated graphic. Examples of sprites include objects in 2D video games, icons that
are part of an application user interface, and small images published on websites.

In the 1980s and for most of the 1990s, sprites were the standard way to integrate graphics into
video games. Graphic artists created small 2D images that were used to represent characters and
other objects. Developers referenced these sprites in the source code and assigned properties
such as when the sprites were displayed and how they interacted with other sprites. For example,
in a side-scroller, such as Super Mario Bros, the sprite of an enemy Koopa would turn into a
flattened Koopa when Super Mario jumped on it. Today, some video games still use 2D sprites,
but most mainstream games use 3D polygons instead. Since computers and gaming consoles now
have dedicated 3D video cards, they can actually render 3D objects more efficiently than 2D
sprites.

While sprites have become less common in modern video games, they are still used by software
developers for other purposes. For example, sprites are often used to add buttons, symbols, and
other user interface elements to software programs. Developers can attach actions to sprites
within the user interface, such as playing an animation or changing the current view of the
window when the sprite is clicked. Sprites are especially useful for adding custom graphics that
are not natively supported by the operating system's API.

Sprites are also used on the Web for navigation buttons and for adding visual appeal to
webpages. In recent years, sprite sheets have become a popular way for web developers to load
website graphics. By combining a large number of sprites into a single image, all the sprites can
be downloaded and cached by a user's browser with a single request to the server. The images
are then displayed using CSS properties that define the locations of individual sprites within the
image.

Bitmap

A bitmap (or raster graphic) is a digital image composed of a matrix of dots. When viewed at
100%, each dot corresponds to an individual pixel on a display. In a standard bitmap image, each
dot can be assigned a different color. Together, these dots can be used to represent any type of
rectangular picture.

There are several different bitmap file formats. The standard, uncompressed bitmap format is
also known as the "BMP" format or the device independent bitmap (DIB) format. It includes a
header, which defines the size of the image and the number of colors the image may contain, and
a list of pixels with their corresponding colors. This simple, universal image format can be
recognized on nearly all platforms, but is not very efficient, especially for large images.

Other bitmap image formats, such as JPEG, GIF, and PNG, incorporate
compression algorithms to reduce file size. Each format uses a different type of compression, but
they all represent an image as a grid of pixels. Compressed bitmaps are significantly smaller than
uncompressed BMP files and can be downloaded more quickly. Therefore, most images you see
on the web are compressed bitmaps.

If you zoom into a bitmap image, regardless of the file format, it will look blocky because each
dot will take up more than one pixel. Therefore, bitmap images will appear blurry if they are
enlarged. Vector graphics, on the other hand, are composed of paths instead of dots, and can be
scaled without reducing the quality of the image.
File extensions: .BMP, .DIB
1. “Programming”

Let’s say you have a dog, and we will call him Max. You want to be able to train Max to the
point where upon command, he responds and performs to your instruction. “Sit.” “Stay.” “Don’t
even think about chasing that squirrel.”

When you write a program, the basis of your actions doesn’t stray far from the same. You, the
owner, are giving a set of commands to your computer (or dog, in this example) and expecting a
certain outcome based on those commands. But instead of speaking those instructions with a
pocket full of bacon treats, you’re writing instructions in a language that kind of resembles
normal English, but with a few additional parameters and rules. Not to mention that, unlike a
dog, the computer always listens—if the command is given properly.

Programming is the foundation of robotics, video games, apps, computer graphics, and so much
more. Every computer program is a set of instructions; a sequence of short commands, one after
another. It’s about breaking up a complex task into a set of smaller, individual instructions and
using a programming language to write those instructions.

2. “Programming Language”

To go along with the point above, in order for you to communicate with a computer (and to get it
to execute those instructions) you must speak its language.

In programming, a language is made up of a vocabulary and set of grammatical rules—sound

familiar? Where it gets a little tricky is that each language is based on its own unique syntax
(grammatical structure) and semantics (meaning).

There are a number of different programming languages, and when it comes to which one you
should be learning, it all really depends on what you want to do. C++ is the basis for popular web
browsers, Adobe products, and more, while Java is good to know when designing video games.
Python powers sites like Pinterest and Instagram, and in the case of the internet, HTML
(Hypertext Markup Language) is used to create web pages that display information.

This helpful infographic from Lifehacker breaks down all the language differences.

3. “Programming Statement”

Because the terms “instructions” and “commands” were used quite a bit in the previous
explanations, I thought it best to next define “statements.”
Basically, the way you tell a computer to do something is by giving it instructions or writing
statements to explain a desired action. Again, it’s similar to writing sentences in English, but
with words, numbers, and punctuation added in depending on the programming language you’re
using. So to bring it together, a program is written through a sequence of one or more statements.

Think about it like giving a friend driving directions—“Go straight for one mile. Turn left. Go
straight for another two blocks. Stop at stop sign. Turn right.” The task you want to achieve is
getting your friend from point A to point B. You break up that task through a number of
individual statements to make it happen.

4. “Data Type”

Artificial intelligence may one day change this, but currently, computers can’t differentiate
between letters or numbers. So, computer programmers must establish a data type. This is a
classification of the type of data a variable or other object can be assigned in a computer
program.

Variables in programming are like those you’ve learned in math class, with the difference being
that a programming variable can represent more than just a number. Meaning, it could, for
example, hold an alphabetic character like “c” or a whole word or phrase like “Hello World”,
commonly called a string or a Boolean (more on “Boolean” below).

Data types are present in virtually all computer programming languages, including Visual Basic,
C#, C++ and JavaScript. Some examples of data types include:

• Boolean (e.g. True, False)

• Character (e.g. Z)

• Date (e.g. 06/29/2018)

Understanding data types allows programmers to design better applications.

5. “Boolean”

Remember the old TRUE or FALSE tests in school? You could actually call them Boolean tests,
since a Boolean (pronounced “bool-e-an”), bool, or Boolean expression is a value of either
TRUE or FALSE. Boolean was developed by the English mathematician and computer pioneer
George Boole,
Booleans are typically stored within a bit, which is the smallest amount of storage in a computer
when it comes to orders of magnitude. It holds a single binary digit. Binary, being a base-2
number system, means it can only hold the value 0 or 1. In the case a Boolean, 0 usually means
false while 1 is usually used for true.

Which leads us to the classic programming joke, “The best thing about a Boolean is even if you
are wrong, you are only off by a bit.”

6. “Binary”

All computers speak binary: 1’s and 0’s. A simple and elegant 2 number system, binary is the
basis of all binary code, and that code is the foundation of all programming languages.

Because Binary can quickly detect an electrical signal’s on or off state, it makes it an efficient
way to control logic circuits in magnetic media (the positive and negative poles are quickly and
easily transferred into binary).

7. “Application” (AKA “App”)

Yes, you have an iPhone or an Android smartphone and are probably very familiar with “apps,”
how to download them, how to use them, etc. But the mobile app is just one example. Short for
“application,” apps can also take form as web apps or online apps.

The term “app” has become a trendy, modern, go-to word, but it really doesn’t differ from a
software program. An app is designed for a particular purpose, and on your iPhone or Android
device, that can mean just about anything. Find a restaurant. There’s an app for that. Order pizza.
There’s an app for that. Facebook. There’s an app for that. Most of these things can be done
through a web browser, but the mobile apps, designed specifically to be accessed from your
phone, make life so much easier.

To build an iPhone app, you’ll need to know XCode, Apple’s integrated development
environment. To build an app for Android, your development environment will require
Eclipse. View all programming classes for teens and kids.

8. “Scratch Programming”

Now let’s turn to something a little more tangible. Scratch is a MIT-developed graphical
programming language, where kids can learn drag-and-drop programming basics to create
interactive stories and comics.
While you can get a little caught up in all of the different programming languages shown
above, Scratch programming classes are great for any kid needing a beginner-level
introduction.

Instead of lines of code, Scratch uses block-based coding for users to build with colorful
commands and cartoon sprites. The real beauty of it is, even without typing code, users can gain
experience with statements, learn computational ideas, and think creatively to problem-solve.
Plus, Scratch is incredibly engaging.

9. “ASCII”

Every bit of data a computer processes has to be converted into something for humans to
understand and use. It could be a picture of a pizza, your tax documents, or the latest viral cat
video.

But what you may not realize is that those tax documents and delicious looking pizza - anything,
really - starts as numbers; the only thing that computers understand. 1’s and 0’s (binary) are the
computer data and ASCII (pronounced “ask-e”) is a system that maps data/numbers into a
computer's memory as text.

The acronym ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interexchange and
ASCII assigns letters and characters to the 256 slots available in 8-bit code.

10. “API”

Much in the same way you need tools to build a house, you also need tools, routines, and
protocols for building software applications. That’s what an application program interface (API)
is.

An API (pronounced phonetically as, “a-p-i”) outlines how software and its components should
work together. APIs are also used in programming graphical user interfaces or GUI (pronounced
“goo-ey”).

11. “BASIC”

Computer programmers need to start somewhere, and that somewhere used to be the BASIC
programming language. BASIC (Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was created
in 1964 by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College.
As mentioned, programming languages let people give instructions and commands to computers.
BASIC, then, is a language that’s well suited for people who want to learn computer
programming but may not be mathematically inclined. The language is structured very similar to
English, with simple, straightforward commands. In recent years, programming languages like
Java and Python have surpassed BASIC’s popularity because of their proliferation.

12. “.net”

.NET Framework is a programming framework developed by Microsoft that runs mainly on

Microsoft Windows. The .net framework can support a variety of different programming
languages and allows developers to create applications more easily. Basically, it’s a batch of
code that programmers can use to bring together multiple components without having to write it
into code.

You can think of .net as the computer version of a work shed. The shed is stocked with different
tools, and depending on the job, you can use those tools accordingly. If a programmer builds a
program that needs to perform a certain task (like reading information off a hard drive) the
programmer can just head to the shed (.net) and get the tool to do it. The shed owner (IT
department) can add to it, while the supplier (Microsoft) of the shed requires you place it in a
specific spot in your backyard (Windows).

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