8 Easy Programming Languages to Learn

Coding languages don’t have to be hard to learn. Many are so similar to English that you can pick them up in a matter of weeks – and become fluent in just months. And these days, coding isn’t just for professional computer programmers. Nearly everyone can develop a basic understanding of languages like HTML, CSS, and Python.

Knowing how to code, even a little bit, transfers across industries and fields as our world becomes ever-connected, making this an in-demand skill. So whether you dream of a career as a data analyst or just want to design your own dynamic website from scratch, it pays to learn how to code.

What Makes a Programming Language Easy to Learn?

What makes a programming language easy to learn is subjective. Established programmers and coders usually pick up new languages easily because part of learning how to code includes the ability to learn other skills and programming languages.

For new coders, certain languages are easier to start with than others, whether you’re in a technical role or not. This is because some coding languages have a simpler syntax – they’re closer to English than other languages.

The best programming languages to learn to code for absolute beginners are ones that will have you writing code – and seeing results – quickly. These languages are accessible to everyone, even those without a technical background.

Once you learn a few easy programming languages, you might find that you pick up others more quickly. Here are 8 languages that are good for absolute beginners who want to learn how to code.

8 Easiest Programming Languages to Learn

The languages listed here are the ones usually taught to beginning coders. Starting with these usually means you can start writing code almost immediately, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t powerful — many of these coding languages power most of the websites or apps you use every day.

HTML

HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. It’s a web-based language that tells a web browser (like Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox) how to best display text and images on a webpage. It uses a tag system to determine back-end placement and media type. Almost every webpage on the Internet uses HTML to display information.

HTML is usually one of the first languages coders learn because it’s so straightforward. Coders can become expert-level with HTML in just a few months. At App Academy, we teach HTML as part of our “Web Development Fundamentals” module.

CSS

HTML & CSS are often learned and used in tandem on whatever project or job you’re doing. CSS is another programming language we teach here at App Academy in our “Web Development Fundamentals” module. CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, helps you create more descriptive elements for your web page. This can include color, font, layout, branding, or other stylistic choices on the same webpage. We like to say that HTML is the house, while CSS is the decor, paint colors, and furnishings.

Anyone aspiring to do web development or software engineering should know HTML & CSS. HTML & CSS are two of the many easy programming languages to learn and are widely used in tech and non-tech jobs across industries.

Python

Python is written in plain English so it’s easy to understand and read. It’s also an open-source language, meaning anyone can contribute to its development. It can be used for small tasks, large tasks, and repetitive tasks. Python is even used by non-programmers due to its similarity to the structure of the English language.

Major apps like Instagram, Netflix, and Spotify have been built with Python, but you can use Python to create even the smallest, shortest of projects. Python is one of the most popular programming languages used around the world today, which is one of the reasons why we teach it here at App Academy. Knowing Python is a great skill for anyone looking to start a new career in coding.

JavaScript

JavaScript (not to be confused with Java) is the other most popular programming language used across the globe. It’s one of the first languages we teach here at App Academy in our module, “Programming Fundamentals.” It’s used in both front-end and back-end web development and can interact with other languages such as HTML, CSS, and Python.

JavaScript is used to create dynamic elements that support page functionality — like scrolling, jumping, or moving. Most web pages use these elements, so JavaScript is always a good programming language to learn. You can install a text editor on your computer to easily start writing JavaScript.

SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) works with databases, especially ones that hold enormous amounts of data. SQL allows the user to add, delete, modify, or update records within that database. It’s a common back-end language for anyone who deals with data – and data is everywhere.

Finance, healthcare, social media – any company or organization that relies on collecting, storing, and managing data need someone fluent in SQL. That’s why we teach it as part of our back-end programming module here at App Academy.

As an in-demand database language, SQL is a great language to learn if you want to level up your existing career in programming.

Find an SQL Course: Best SQL Courses to Level Up Your Career

Ruby & Ruby on Rails

Ruby is considered one of the easiest programming languages to learn because it’s so straightforward, simple, and accessible. With Ruby, you can create more functionality with less code. Typically, budding programmers learn Ruby more easily than other languages and then use it as a jumping-off point for learning additional languages.

Ruby on Rails is an open-source development framework developed for use with Ruby, making it even easier to learn and use. Some great examples of companies that use Ruby on Rails for their websites include Airbnb, Github, and Basecamp.

Read More:

• Ruby vs. JavaScript: Which Should You Learn First?
• Ruby on Rails vs. Python
• Can You Learn Ruby on Rails With No Coding Experience?

Java

Java is well-known as a “write once, run anywhere” language. This makes it a great choice for programming beginners because it can be run on almost any computer that supports Java. Most Android devices are programmed using Java.

It’s simple and clear, which is what makes it one of the easiest programming languages to learn. Yet it’s similar enough to some of the more complicated programming languages, like C++ and C#, that it’s a great starting point for learning harder languages later on.

PHP

Once you know a bit of HTML, PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, will be one of the quickest programming languages to learn next. Popular with back-end developers, PHP is used within HTML to manage databases. They work together to create more robust, dynamic web pages that can be easily managed or changed. It’s highly secure, making it useful for when you need to secure the data within your programming – Facebook and WordPress both use PHP within their systems.

What Are the Easiest Ways to Learn Programming Languages?

Now that you know which programming languages are the easiest to learn, how will you go about learning them? There are a few options out there for beginners that can help you get started immediately.

Coding Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps are programs designed to teach you how to code quickly. Unlike traditional colleges and universities, bootcamps focus on what you need to learn to get a job as a programmer. They’re short, immersive, and usually more affordable than a 2- or 4-year computer science degree. App Academy offers several ways to take advantage of our robust bootcamps:

• In-person, full-time
• Online, full-time
• Online, part-time

App Academy bootcamps give you access to our instructors – even our online, part-time students can “visit” instructors during office hours or schedule 1:1s. We prepare you for a coding career in the real world by pairing you up for projects as well as facilitating group time for brainstorming and idea-sharing.

In addition to teaching you exactly what you need to know quickly, most coding bootcamps will help you find a job right after graduation. At App Academy, our bootcamps include career coaching that supports resume building, networking, and coding interview prep.

Learn More: How to Choose the Best Coding Bootcamp for You

Free Online Courses

There are also many options out there for you to learn some of the simplest coding languages on your own for free. App Academy, for example, offers App Academy Open, which gives you access to our entire curriculum for free.

Other free online courses include LearnPython and freeCodeCamp, which offer tutorials specific to the language you want to learn. Online learning centers such as UDemy and CodeAcademy also offer free classes in many easy coding languages.

The downside to learning online for free is that you may not have access to instructors who can answer your questions, classmates to work on projects with, or job support after you finish. But if you’re a self-starter with solid discipline and the ability to solve problems on your own, then free online courses may be for you.

Learn More: The 11 Best Free Coding Bootcamps

How Do I Choose Which Programming Language to Learn?

Choosing which programming language to learn mostly depends on two important factors: where you are now, and where you want to go.

If you’re already a front-end developer and want to become a full-stack developer, then we recommend learning back-end languages like Ruby on Rails, SQL, or Python. Similarly, if you’re a back-end developer who wants to learn more about front-end development, you’ll need HTML and CSS.

However, if you’re an absolute beginner who’s never written a line of code before, we think the best programming languages to learn right now are Python and JavaScript. They’re the most popular as well as two of the simplest coding languages for total newbies.

What kind of coding career you’re looking for will also factor into your decision. Jobs that work with databases will require you to know SQL. Dream of designing apps? You’ll need front-end programming languages like HTML and CSS. Gamers should consider Java, JavaScript, and Python to get started.

Once you know what kind of coding or programming career you want, you’ll know which languages to focus on learning first.

Start Developing Your Skills with App Academy

App Academy can help you learn how to code quickly and affordably, no matter what languages you want – or need – to learn. Our coding bootcamps are designed to teach you languages that will lead to your dream career in computer programming. And our bootcamp is designed to get you the job you want through career coaching, interview prep, and resume writing. Learn to code on your first day with App Academy.

Take our online quiz to learn which program is right for you, sign up for a live online info session to learn more, schedule a 1:1 call with one of our team experts, or submit a request with our convenient online form. Start your software engineering career today with App Academy!

And, if you’re ready to dig in deeper, start exploring our programs to see which one might be a good fit for you!

Full-Time Online Coding Bootcamp - Full-Time, Online Software Engineer Program

‍Part-Time Online Coding Bootcamp - Part-Time, Online Software Engineering Program

‍Campus-based, Full-Time Software Engineering Programs - New York & San Francisco Campus Programs

‍Learn Coding for Free - App Academy Open