When it comes to back-end programming languages, there are several factors to consider such as file size, performance, compatibility, the number of required lines of code, and the programming style. Some of these languages are designed in an object-oriented programming style, which means that attributes and functions are bundled within objects. Others may be compiled rather than interpreted, which affects the application's load time, readability, and processing power. Let's take a look at some of the different types of back-end programming languages available:
C++: This language combines C's features with object-oriented programming features such as classes. It is a low-level programming language that is used to communicate efficiently with the system hardware for better performance. It is ideal for video games, large web applications, and other use-cases where system-level performance is a priority.
C#: This language is commonly used in Windows servers and environments. If your technology stack is based on Microsoft products such as ASP.NET, C# is likely to be the most productive choice for your developers.
Java: This is a general-purpose object-oriented programming language that was designed with cross-platform compatibility in mind. Java programs can be executed on any machine running an installation of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
JavaScript (Node.js): Although traditionally known as a front-end scripting language, the introduction of Node.js showed that it could also be used on the server-side of applications. JavaScript is now a popular choice for front-end and back-end web development.
PHP: This is the most popular back-end language for the web. It has a low learning curve and the benefit of a massive codebase and long history of open-source developer community support for using it on the back end of websites. If you've ever set up a personal website with WordPress, PHP was powering the back end from behind the scenes.
Python: This is a general-purpose programming language that boasts an impressive library for data processing. For back-end development, Python brings the advantage of programmer productivity through its simple syntax and short code length.
Perl: Developed by Larry Wall in the 1990s, Perl is a general-purpose programming language that's popular in the Linux and Unix world. Perl's strengths lie in text manipulation and log management. It's great for writing short automation scripts on the fly.
Ruby: This is a dynamically-typed general-purpose programming language that's known for programmer productivity. It supports procedural, functional, and object-oriented programming paradigms and is known for its ability to incorporate metaprogramming into apps (code that can change while it's running).
