JavaScript Named #1 Most Used Programming Language

The dynamic, uninterpreted computer programming language JavaScript has been named the #1 most used language, according to a bi-annual report published by RedMonk.

Of course, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who keeps up with RedMonk’s bi-annual programming language reports. In its last report, published September 2015, JavaScript was also given a #1 ranking — a trend that doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

About the Report

So, how did RedMonk come to the conclusion that JavaScript was the most frequently used computer programming language? Its bi-annual reports are created based on the performance of various programming languages on GitHub and Stack Overflow.

In addition to JavaScript, RedMonk compares the performance of Java, PHP, Python, C#, C++, Ruby, CSS, C, Objective-C, Shell, Perl, R, Scala, Go, Haskell, Swift, Matlab, Clojure, Groovy and Visual Basic.

Why JavaScript Continues to Dominate

JavaScript was originally created in the mid 1990s as a way to make things blink on websites. While some websites still utilize JavaScript for this purpose, it has since evolved into something much greater. It is now used in PDF documents, desktop widgets, applications, and custom site-specific web browsers. Research shows that approximately 90% of all websites on the Internet run JavaScript, attesting to its widespread popularity.

Another reason why JavaScript remains one of the leading programming languages is because of its libraries. A JavaScript library is essentially a pre-made JavaScript code that allows for faster and easier development of applications, including AJAX. Beginners and seasoned JavaScript programmers alike should take advantage of these libraries to streamline their programming tasks.

As noted by Redmonk, Java and JavaScript are often used alongside one another in the same application.

“JavaScript’s continued strength is impressive, as is Java’s steady, robust performance. The long time presence of these two languages in particular atop our rankings is no coincidence; instead it reflects an increasing willingness to employ a best-tool-for-the-job approach, even within the most conservative of enterprises,” explained RedMonk in its report. “In many cases, Java and JavaScript are leveraged side-by-side in the same application, depending on its particular needs.”

Cross-Browser Compatibility

JavaScript was designed to run in a variety of different environments, including all of the major web browsers (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.). And because it’s a client-side (not server-side) language, JavaScript is fast and efficient.

Easy to Learn

When compared to other programming languages, JavaScript is certainly one of the easier languages to learn. It’s backed by an open-source community with developers and programmers who are eager to help. You can also browse through a plethora of libraries, projects and frameworks on GitHub and similar sites to further your JavaScript knowledge.

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