List of programming languages

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List of Programming Languages

The list of programming languages is extensive and continually evolving as new languages are developed and existing ones are updated. Programming languages are formal languages comprising a set of instructions that produce various kinds of output. They are used in computer programming to implement algorithms and manipulate data structures. This article provides an overview of some of the most notable programming languages, categorized by their primary use and characteristics.

Overview

Programming languages can be categorized based on their level of abstraction, paradigms, and specific use cases. They range from low-level languages, which are closer to machine code, to high-level languages, which are more abstract and easier for humans to read and write.

Low-Level Languages

Low-level languages are closer to the hardware and provide little or no abstraction from a computer's instruction set architecture. They are often used for system programming and include:

• Assembly language: A low-level language that uses symbolic code and is specific to a computer architecture.
• Machine code: The lowest-level programming language, consisting of binary code that the computer's CPU can execute directly.

High-Level Languages

High-level languages provide greater abstraction and are designed to be easy for humans to read and write. They are often used for application development and include:

• Python: Known for its readability and simplicity, Python is widely used in web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and scientific computing.
• Java: A versatile, object-oriented language used for building platform-independent applications.
• C++: An extension of the C programming language, C++ supports object-oriented programming and is used in system/software development, game development, and more.
• JavaScript: A high-level, dynamic language primarily used for creating interactive effects within web browsers.

Domain-Specific Languages

Domain-specific languages (DSLs) are specialized languages designed for a particular application domain. Examples include:

• SQL: A language used for managing and querying relational databases.
• HTML: A markup language used for creating and designing web pages.
• R: A language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.

Functional Languages

Functional programming languages emphasize the application of functions and avoid changing-state and mutable data. Examples include:

• Haskell: A purely functional programming language known for its strong static typing and lazy evaluation.
• Lisp: One of the oldest high-level programming languages, known for its unique parenthesized syntax and powerful macro system.

Scripting Languages

Scripting languages are often used for automating tasks and writing short programs. They include:

• Perl: Known for its text processing capabilities and used in web development, system administration, and network programming.
• Ruby: A dynamic, open-source language with a focus on simplicity and productivity, often used in web development.

Also see

• Comparison of programming languages
• History of programming languages
• Programming language theory
• Software development
• Compiler