Between 2021 and 2031, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts web development will grow by 23%. That growth translates to over 45,000 new jobs. But how do you capitalize on this emerging opportunity?

Even if you’re just a beginner, you might know that you can use several different languages to build and optimize websites. The sheer number of choices can seem overwhelming, and it can be difficult to decide which language to learn first or to figure out the best programming language for web development to meet your goals.

Let’s walk through nine of the best programming languages for web development so you can find your best match.

What is Web Development?

Web development encompasses all of the tasks associated with developing websites. It’s the process of building a functional website, including user-facing content, configuring network security, designing the site, and handling the back-end scripting when necessary.

It also involves maintaining, optimizing, and managing a website to ensure it always functions as it was designed to. Web developers will optimize a site’s speed and performance to provide an exceptional user experience.

Web development and software development are similar, but when it comes to web developers vs. software engineers, the former only works on websites. Software engineers, on the other hand, can potentially work on a variety of applications depending on their technical skills.

Read more: Deep Dive into Full-Stack Web Development

The Qualities of a Good Programming Language for Web Development

Every coding language has its strengths and weaknesses, so the best programming language for web development will vary depending on your specific strengths and goals. It may also vary depending on the specific use case, since each project may have different requirements or objectives.

Since websites can vary in terms of scope and sophistication, the most important quality of a good web development language is versatility. It should also be widely supported by top networks and search engines to optimize the site’s reach to users.

Web development languages should also be easy for other developers to understand, interpret, and interact with. But rarely is one language a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, when building a website, you’ll probably find yourself using multiple languages for different phases of development.

You’ll likely need a back-end programming language for server-side development but a front-end language to complete the components a user will interact with. Tech-savvy individuals who have mastered both front-end and back-end programming are known as full-stack developers. Full-stack developers are in high demand (and have exceptional earning potential) because they can oversee a web development project from beginning to end.

Becoming a full-stack developer starts with learning just a few core web development languages first. So let’s take a look at our list of some of the best programming languages for web development.

The Best Programming Languages for Web Development

There’s no single best programming language for web development, rather there are several great options. Each of these is useful for working on specific types, or specific phases, of projects.

1. HTML

HyperText Markup Language (or HTML) is not a programming language, strictly speaking. It’s a markup language that’s foundational for web development. HTML is used to create the structure of web pages, including paragraphs, images, links, etc. HTML tells the browser how to display these page attributes to the user.

HTML is relatively easy to learn and use. It’s free, supported by all browsers, and allows for the use of templates that can expedite web development. HTML is, however, a static language, meaning you can’t use it to create dynamic content. It has to be used in conjunction with other languages.

2. CSS

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is another programming language that’s not really a programming language. It’s a stylesheet language used to create the stylistic elements of a web page, impacting the position, color, and size of all web page elements, such as text, logos, and images.

CSS is a simple but powerful language that is easy to learn, and the combination of HTML and CSS can yield dynamic stylistic elements that captivate users. CSS can also optimize page loading speed due to its responsive nature.  

Learn more: How Long Does it Take to Learn CSS?

3. Java

Based on the C++ and C programming languages, Java is one of the most widely used programming languages in existence. This object-oriented language commonly runs on devices like medical equipment, gaming consoles, computers, and smartphones.

Java is portable, meaning you can transfer the code you write from device to device. You could write Java-based code on your laptop and move it over to your smartphone, and it would still function. This portability is possible because the creator of Java stuck to the principle, Write once