There are many types of programming languages available in the market. All of these different types of programming languages have their functionalities and specialties. Depending on the functions and abilities of these languages, they are classified into different types. In this article, I am going to discuss different types of programming languages that will help you understand the credibility and programming style of each of these different programming languages.
There are a lot of programming languages, but very few of them are accepted by programmers to pursue their careers in coding. As we know programming languages are used to get control over the performance of a machine or computer. Currently, programmers have numerous options to select the programming language, the ability and implementation of each language are quite different from others, so it is important to understand the functions of each language before selecting it for your career. So, this article provides you with comprehensive information about different types of programming languages, and functions of these languages, and the differences between languages in a more useful way.
Some of the major classifications and types of computer programming languages are as follows:
Table of Contents
Different Types of Computer Programming Languages
Procedural-Oriented Language (3GL)
This programming executes a series of statements that lead to an outcome. Usually, this kind of programming uses heavy loops, multiple variables, and some other elements, which is also a major difference between procedural and functional languages. The procedural functions can manage the variables, other than the value returns for these functions. For instance, information printing out. In these languages, the instructions of the program are written in order or in a defined direction in which they should be executed to solve some problem. It means that the program instructions are very important in the Procedural-Oriented languages.
Logic Programming Language
Logic programming languages permit the programmers to create declarative statements and formerly let the machine aim for outcomes of statements. It can be said that this language would not tell the machine to do something but use the margins on what it should consider doing. Logic programming languages are easier to program in C in an object-oriented style. In reality, many languages include features and ideas from numerous domains, that just support to raise the practicality of this kind of language. However, many programming languages are not suited to other types of languages.
Object-Oriented Programming
This programming language treats the data as a collection of objects that have some internal data and external portions of that data. This programming aims to think about the problem by separating it into object collections that offer solutions that can be used to resolve a particular issue. The object-oriented programming language’s main principle is encapsulation which states that everything an object will require should be inside an object. This programming stresses the reusability via inheritance and the ability to spread present executions without having to transform a huge amount of programming code through using polymorphism.
Problem-Oriented Language (4GL)
A problem-oriented language is said to be a programming language that manages structures particularly data structures that replicate in some characteristic measures of a problem class, such as scientific computation or commercial data processing. By distinction, the machine-oriented structures show the internal mechanical structure. It permits the users to stipulate what the result would be, without discussing all the details about the manipulation of data to produce the outcomes. This language is said to be one step ahead of Object-oriented programming language. These languages include database query language and they are typically result-oriented.
Scripting Programming Language
The scripting programming languages are often procedural and most of them include some elements of the object-oriented language but have their category as they are not full-fledged languages for large systems development support in general. For instance, they might not have any checking for the compile-time type. Typically, to get started these types of programming languages need small syntax. A script or scripting language is a kind of programming that provides a special run-time setting that automates the execution of the task; these are said to be the tasks that are alternatively executed one after other by some human operator. Rather than being compiled, the scripting languages are interpreted frequently. The environments that can be computerized via scripting include web pages within a web browser, software applications, embedded systems, shells of operating systems, and many other games.
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Functional Programming
Functional programming is usually used for storing the data, often evading loops in the recursive function’s favor. This type of programming language also focuses on the function’s return values, and there are also some side effects and different recommendations that state storing is discouraged powerfully. For instance, functional programming is said to be a useful and pure language, in a function that is named, it’s expected that the function will perform not modify operation.
It might create some algorithmic calls and change the parameters of calls. Functional languages typically easier to figure out abstract matters, though, they will even be “more than the machine” in their model of programming which also makes it hard to know, but the programming code is decoded into machine language which is also troublesome for the programming of the system.
Java
Java is a general-purpose programming language that is object-oriented, class-based, and made to have some implementation needs as conceivable. It is designed to allow the application developers to write the code in Java for once, and run anywhere (WORA), it means that Java code when compiled can be executed on all podiums that support Java without any recompilation need. The applications in Java are assembled to bytecode that you can run on a Java virtual machine (JVM) irrespective of the system architecture. Some of the programs in Java have a status of being sluggish and consume more memory as compared to the code written in C++ language.
Java is multi-platform programming that is an ideal option for networking. Typically this language is used in web development with Java applets. Nevertheless, Java is also used to make programs that can be run on different platforms, as it is quite similar to the C++ syntax and structure. For programmers of C++, Java is an easy language to understand and learn and it also provides some benefits offered by object-oriented programming. You must understand the fact that it can be hard to write well-organized coding in Java. But currently, the Java speed has increased and the Java 1.5 version provides some good structures for making the programming easier.
PHP
PHP is a kind of scripting language that can also be used to design web pages. If you want to make some websites rapidly, it is the finest option available in the market, and as a result, it also contains features that would allow you to generate a link to databases and HTTP headers easily. PHP is a scripting language that comprises some components that allow the programmer to effortlessly get up to speed. Nevertheless, it has more complex features of object-oriented programming.
The PHP is designed to make the web pages and from time to time it is used as a scripting language. As a scripting language, it comprises a set of components that allow the developers to improve the overall speed. This language would help you to make a website and by using the amazing features of PHP you can also create the links to the databases of the website. Nevertheless, Php features are said to be more sophisticated than other object-oriented languages.
Other than web development, you can also use PHP can be used for many other tasks related to programming, for example, it can be used in robotic drone control and standalone graphical applications. Basic functionality of the object-oriented languages is also added in version PHP 3 and enhanced in PHP 4. It is also allowable for PHP to get a further idea; it will make the creative tasks easier for developers with PHP. For PHP 5, Object handling was rewritten, increasing the overall feature of the language that would also improve the performance.
Also Read: PHP Framework List: An Ultimate Guide to 102 PHP Frameworks for Web Developers
C++ Programming
For a project with a larger scope, C++ is an ideal option because of its object-oriented structure. By using this language, the programmers can incorporate one program into other components or even one separate work on the program’s parts. The object-oriented structure, in this language also allows the code written in C++ to be reused. So, it can be said that C++ is a well-organized language. When it comes to the selection of programming language, not very much depends on your personal choice and your requirements. For most of the programmers, it is a good option to select.
C++ was made with a bias toward system programming, resource-constrained software, and embedded and large systems, with flexibility, performance, and efficiency of use as its design. Its language is very useful in numerous contexts, with major strengths being the infrastructure of software and resource-constrained apps, including servers, desktop apps, (such as Web search, SQL servers, or e-commerce), and performance-critical apps (such as space probes or telephone switches)
C Language
The C language is a very popular programming language and it is a basic band simple language, mainly used in programming for games, C language includes the added C++ packing; programmers prefer to use C language as it makes the program faster. However, the overall credibility of this also provides the C++reusability to get a minor rise in the performance of C. C is also said to be a domineering procedural language. It was made to be executed by using a comparatively upfront compiler to offer low-level memory access and it also plots that map proficiently to machine commands, all with slight support at runtime.
There is no doubt that its capabilities are low, the language was made to inspire programming on cross-platform. A C program standards-compliant written with transportability can be executed on various operating systems and computer platforms with few variations to its codding. The C language is also accessible on numerous platforms, from supercomputers to fixed microcontrollers.
Fortran Language
Fortran permits different variable sizes up to the memory space in the system. This language is a collection of crunching languages that are used by scientists. It is an ideal choice for engineers, who need to compute high-precision values. The Fortran program is very inflexible which also makes the readability of the code more difficult. Fortran language is a useful language for engineers to perform high-precision calculations.
Fortran includes a versions lineage, that progressed to add some extensions while it typically gets some compatibility with preceding versions. Some of the consecutive versions of this provide additional support for object-oriented programming (Fortran 2003), character-based data processing and structured programming (FORTRAN 77), concurrent programming (Fortran 2008), Fortran high performance (Fortran 95), modular programming, generic programming, and array programming (Fortran 90), and native capabilities of parallel computing. The design of the Fortran language was the base for numerous other languages. You might hear about BASIC, which is also based on FORTRAN II with many syntax cleanups, particularly better logical constructions, and some changes to work more simply in a collaborative setting.
COBOL
The COBOL is mainly used in finance, administrative, and business systems for governments and companies. This is still extensively used in legacy apps positioned on a computer’s mainframe, for example, transaction processing jobs and large-scale batches. But because of its decreasing fame and the skilled COBOL programmer’s retirement, all of the programs written on it are now migrated to other platforms, replaced with recent languages or other software packages. Most COBOL programming is to preserve existing apps. COBOL also has an English-like syntax, that was made to be highly readable and self-documenting.
The COBOL also supports 3 formats of file: indexed, relative, and sequential. In sequential files, all of the data records are adjoining and should be traversed consecutively, just like a connected list. In the case of indexed files that have at least one indexed to allow records to be accessed randomly and that can be organized on them. It was planned to be an easy language for the programmers to understand and learn the best thing about this language is that it can be] readable to non-technical staff, for example, the management in the company. The readability of the COBOL is high because of the use of English-like syntax and organizational elements, for example, verbs, nouns, sentences, clauses, divisions, and sections.
Pearl Language
Perl is a UNIX-based file management language. This language is very popular for its common gateway interface programming. It is a term used for programs performed by web servers that can allow added web page capabilities. Pearl is also said to be a technique text for searching that is also used for valued server functions and databases, and it is easy to select some of the basics in case you have any knowledge and understanding of any programming language. As a common gateway interface programming, Perl is selected by the web hosting services over C++. Perl is preferred in web hosts that can evaluate the Perl script files. When C++ is executed, although they are text files. Pearl language is used for searching text and performing useful server functions.
PEARL also supports both floating-point and fixed-point character string data, characters, and values as well as the bit values. It offers more amenities for multi-dimensional arrays and structures. Both untyped and typed pointers are supported under this language, with typecasting. Because of the presence of this language, Wall discovered the current PEARL earlier in Perl’s release and changed the name spelling.
Pascal Language
The Pascal is typically a teaching language and just very few industries are using it for programming purposes. Pascalinclines to use keywords in place of braces and symbols in the C language. So, it can be said that this language is easy to learn and understand for beginners to get skilled as compared with C++, and C languages. The Borland is a software company, that is also using Delphi to improve its industrial potential. Delphi is said to be an object-oriented language of Pascal, and currently, Borland Compilers software company is the only organization using it. Pascal language is easy to learn and understand language for beginners.
The Pascal was affected by the efforts of ALGOL W, with some of the clear goals of making a language that will be effective in both the run-time and compiler, permit for the development of the well-structured program, and be valuable for structured programming teaching to the students. A student’s generation used Pascal as a preliminary language in academic courses. The Pascal originally is completely procedural and comprises the ALGOL-like array control structures with some reserved words for example then, if, while, else, case ranging, and for, on a begin-end statements block or a sole statement. Pascal has some of the data structuring theories not comprised of original types of ALGOL 60, like variants, records, enumerations, pointers, and sets and pointers.
Scheme Language
The scheme is also used as a substitute for the LISP language (LISP is typically used in computer science study and its syntax is easy and simple for the developers for structure implementations.), and it has simpler features and syntax. Under the scheme, the project results in LISP language re-implementation. The scheme is one of the most popular preliminary languages in the computer science field. This language simply solves the difficulties rather than worrying about programming syntaxes. If you have no programming knowledge then it is a good language to start your coding with because of its easy and simple syntax. Scheme language is a popular language with simple syntax and features.
So, it can be said that the scheme is a programming language that is supported by various paradigms, with imperative and functional programming. It is one of the 3 major languages of LISP, with the Clojure and Common Lisp. Different from common LISP, it follows a simple philosophy design, stipulating a standard core with influential tools for an extension. This is widely used in schools and other courses related to computer science.
Conclusion
In this article, there is a detailed discussion about different types of programming languages. There are a lot of programming languages discussed in this article that are well-recognized by programmers to pursue their careers in coding. Presently, a programmer has numerous options to select the programming language, the ability and implementation of each language are quite different from others. Object-oriented programming treats the data as a cluster of objects that have some internal data and external portions of that data. Scripting programming is often procedural and it mostly includes some elements of the object-oriented language. All in all, it can be said that all programming languages have their specialties and functions that vary depending on the needs of users.
I hope the information shared in this article will help you to understand the functionalities and credibility of different programming languages. If you find this article helpful then do share it in your circle.
Nadiia Kehrli
Hey, Hanna. Thank you for the input. Could you please clarify, if this is the complete list of programming languages or only a part of it? How often do new programming languages appear?
David Max
Nadiia, Thanks for your appreciation. We have discussed the major classifications and types of computer programming languages. When we talk about OOP (Object Oriented Programming) then hundreds of languages are fall in this category.