Learning a coding/programming language can be an intimidating process, but understanding the difficulty of each language can make the process more manageable. The difficulty of a programming language depends on a variety of factors, such as the complexity of the language and the amount of prior knowledge you may have.
We will take a look at some of the easiest and hardest coding languages to learn, helping you decide which language is the best fit for you.
From Python to C++, we’ll dive into the details of each language, breaking down their unique features and characteristics, so you can make an informed decision. Let’s get started!
What Makes a Programming Language Easy or Hard to Learn?
When considering the difficulty of a programming language, it can be helpful to look at the big picture. While every language is different and has its own set of complexities, there are a few overarching characteristics that can give you a sense of the language’s difficulty. These characteristics include the following:
- Amount of prior knowledge required: This is one of the biggest factors in determining the difficulty of a language. No matter how easy a language is, if you don’t have any idea what you’re doing, it will be difficult to pick up and master.
- Prerequisites for learning the language: Some languages require more knowledge than others, like having a background in algebra or computer science. This can make the language more difficult to learn.
- Complexity of syntax: The syntax is the “language” in which you write a program. Some syntaxes are much more straightforward than others, making a language easier to pick up and understand.
- Number of developers: The more people there are programming in a language, the easier it is to find help when you get stuck, or to find a job as a programmer.
Easiest Programming Languages to Learn
Now that we’ve taken a look at what makes a programming language easy or hard to learn, let’s take a look at some of the easiest programming languages to learn. We’ll start with the easiest programming language to learn first, and then move on to the hardest.
a. Python
Python is a great programming language for beginners, with an easy syntax and straightforward design. One of the greatest benefits of Python is that it can easily be applied to different industries and fields of study, making it a versatile tool for all types of programmers.
Another reason that Python is a great language to start with is due to its large online community, as well as its abundance of learning resources, making it easy to find help and advice along the way. Additionally, Python is used extensively in many industries, including data science, machine learning, and computer vision, making it a valuable skill to have.
b. JavaScript
As the most popular programming language in the world, JavaScript is a great choice for beginners. It has a straightforward syntax and design that is easy to understand, making it a great language for beginners to start with. One of the best things about JavaScript is that it’s easy to find a job once you have the required skills.
JavaScript is used extensively in many industries, including web development, data visualization, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, JavaScript is easy to learn, making it a great language for beginners to start with.
c. PHP
PHP is another great programming language to start with. It has a straightforward syntax and design, making it easy to understand. PHP can be applied to a variety of industries and fields of study, making it a valuable skill to have. One of the best things about PHP is that it’s easy to find a job once you have the required skills.
PHP is used extensively in many industries, including e-commerce, content management systems, and financial services. Additionally, PHP is easy to learn, making it a great language for beginners to start with.
d. Ruby
Ruby is another popular programming language that is easy to learn. It has a straightforward syntax and design that is easy to understand, making it a great language for beginners to start with. Another reason Ruby is a great language to start with is the amount of help and support that is available, making the learning process easier. Ruby has a large online community, making it easy to find help and advice along the way.
e. Visual Basic
Visual Basic is a programming language designed for ease of use, making it a great choice for beginners. Visual Basic can be applied to a range of industries and fields of study, making it a valuable skill to have. Another reason Visual Basic is a great language to start with is the amount of help and resources available, making the learning process easier. Visual Basic has a large online community, making it easy to find help and advice along the way.
Hardest Coding Languages to Learn
To understand the difficulty of a coding language, we must first understand what constitutes a programming language. This can be a bit tricky, as there is no official definition for a programming language, but we can make some generalizations. Programming languages are designed for computers to understand and execute—they are the language of computers.
They consist of instructions that tell the computer what to do and what the desired outcome is. This can be as simple as a program that adds two numbers or as complex as controlling a car. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines to help you understand the difficulty of a programming language and are not set in stone.
Let’s take a look at some of the hardest programming languages to learn.
a. C++
C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create computer software. It is a higher-level language that is derived from the original C language, making it one of the hardest programming languages to learn. C++ is a compiled language, meaning that once the code is written, it must be translated into machine language before it can be executed.
C++ is also an object-oriented language, which means that it has a broader focus than C, including data structures and classes. C++ is a very powerful language with a large library of classes, which makes it very applicable for large projects. C++ is also a very large language, which means that there is a lot to learn. However, once you learn C++, understanding other programming languages will be much easier.
b. Java
Java is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create computer software. It is a compiled language, which means that once written, the code must be translated into machine language before execution. Java is also an object-oriented language with a large focus on classes and data structures.
Java was invented in 1995 as a simpler language that would be easier to use and understand than C++. While C++ is very powerful with a large library of classes, Java is smaller and easier to learn. It is no wonder that many computer science departments have switched from C++ to Java as their primary language.
Java is a very powerful language, with lots of potential for complex applications. While Java is easier to understand than C++, it is still considered one of the hardest programming languages to learn.
c. Haskell
Haskell is a pure functional programming language that is a great choice for math and engineering students. It is a purely functional language that has few side effects and focuses on the pure transformation of input to output. This can make the language a bit challenging to understand and learn, but it also makes Haskell very robust and reliable.
While Haskell is considered to be one of the hardest programming languages to learn, it is also one of the most rewarding once learned. If you are studying math or engineering and want to write code but avoid mutability, Haskell is the perfect language for you.
d. Lisp
Lisp is a functional programming language that has a very simple syntax and very little structure. While the syntax is simple, the language is deceptively difficult to understand. Lisp is a very old language that is based on a very different way of doing things than other modern programming languages.
This makes Lisp one of the hardest programming languages to learn. However, if you are interested in computer science history, this is the perfect language for you.
e. Assembly Language
Assembly language is a low-level programming language that is designed to be executed by a computer at the lowest level. Assembly languages are not easily readable, making it one of the hardest programming languages to learn. Assembly languages are uniquely suited to computer architecture but are rarely used in modern programming.
They are only used when very low-level control is necessary, such as low-level hardware programming. Assembly languages are almost always written in a computer language and then translated into assembly. This makes assembly languages hard to learn not only because they are low-level, but also because they require knowledge of another language that can be used to write assembly.
Conclusion
If you have no idea what program you should learn, you have to choose the easiest and hardest programming languages to learn. The hardest programming languages to learn are C++, Java, Haskell, Lisp, and Assembly Language. They are all challenging and difficult to learn, but they each have their own unique challenges.
The easiest programming languages to learn are Python, PHP, JavaScript, and Visual Basic. If you are interested in programming and want to know more about what each language offers, you have a few options. You can try to learn the language by yourself, which can be tricky, or you can try to find a course in online or training center near you.
