8 Simple Programming Languages to Learn

Coding languages don't have to be hard to learn. Many are so similar to English that you can pick them up in a few weeks, and become fluent in just a few months. And these days, coding isn't just for professional programmers. Almost anyone can develop a basic understanding of languages like HTML, CSS, and Python.

Knowing code, even a little, transfers across different industries and fields as our world becomes more interconnected, making this skill highly sought after. So whether you dream of a career as a data analyst or just want to build your own dynamic website from scratch, it's worth learning to code.

What Makes a Programming Language Easy to Learn?

What makes a programming language easy to learn is a subjective question. Experienced programmers and coders usually pick up new languages easily because learning to code involves mastering other skills and programming languages.

For new programmers, some languages are easier to pick up than others, regardless of whether you hold a technical position or not. This is because some coding languages have simpler syntax—they are closer to English than other languages.

The best programming languages for absolute beginners are those that allow you to write code quickly and see results. These languages are accessible to everyone, even those without a technical background.

Once you learn a few simple programming languages, you may find that other languages come to you faster. Here are 8 languages that are great for absolute beginners looking to learn programming.

8 Easiest Programming Languages to Learn

The languages listed here are those that beginner programmers typically learn. Starting with them, you'll usually be able to start writing code almost immediately, but that doesn't mean they aren't powerful—many of these languages power most of the websites and apps you use every day.

HTML

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It's a web language that tells a web browser (like Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox) how to best display text and images on a web page. It uses a system of tags to define the placement and type of media. Almost every web page on the internet uses HTML to display information.

HTML is usually one of the first languages that coders learn because it's very simple. Coders can become experts in HTML in just a few months.

CSS

HTML and CSS are often learned and used in tandem in any project or job. CSS is another programming language. CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, helps create more visual elements for web pages. This can include color, font, layout, branding, and other stylistic decisions on the same web page. We like to say that HTML is the house, and CSS is the decor, paint colors, and furniture.

Anyone looking to get into web development or software development should know HTML and CSS. HTML and CSS are two of many easy-to-learn programming languages that are widely used across various industries, both technical and non-technical.

Python

The Python language is written in simple English, making it easy to understand and read. It's also an open-source language, meaning anyone can contribute to its development. It can be used for small, large, and repetitive tasks. Even non-programmers use Python because of its similarity to English language structure.

Major applications like Instagram, Netflix, and Spotify have been built with Python, but you can use Python to create even the smallest and shortest projects. Python is one of the most popular programming languages used worldwide today. Knowing Python is a great skill for anyone looking to start a new career in coding.

JavaScript

JavaScript (not to be confused with Java) is another most popular programming language used worldwide. It is used in both front-end and back-end web development and can interact with other languages like HTML, CSS, and Python.

JavaScript is used to create dynamic elements that support page functionality—like scrolling, jumping, or moving elements. Most web pages use these elements, so JavaScript is always a good programming language to learn. You can install a text editor on your computer to easily start writing JavaScript.

SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) works with databases, especially those that store huge amounts of data. SQL allows users to add, delete, modify, or update records in a database. It's a common language for anyone dealing with data—and data is everywhere.

Finance, healthcare, social media—any company or organization whose work involves collecting, storing, and managing data needs someone proficient in SQL.

As an in-demand database language, SQL is a great language to learn if you want to advance your programming career.

Ruby and Ruby on Rails

Ruby is considered one of the easiest programming languages to learn because it is so readable, simple, and accessible. With Ruby, you can create more functionality with less code. Typically, beginner programmers pick up Ruby more easily than other languages and then use it as a starting point for learning other languages.

Ruby on Rails is an open-source development framework designed to be used with Ruby, making it even easier to learn and use. Examples of companies that use Ruby on Rails for their websites include Airbnb, GitHub, and Basecamp.

Java

Java is well-known as a "write once, run anywhere" language. This makes it a great choice for beginner programmers because it can run on almost any computer that supports Java. Most Android devices are programmed using Java.

It is simple and straightforward, making it one of the easiest programming languages to learn. At the same time, it is similar enough to some more complex programming languages like C++ and C# to be a great starting point for learning more advanced languages later.

PHP

If you know a little HTML, PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) will be one of the fastest programming languages to learn next. Popular among back-end developers, PHP is used in HTML to manage databases. Their combined work allows you to create more robust, dynamic web pages that are easy to manage and modify. This language features a high level of security, making it useful when you need to protect data within your programming—Facebook and WordPress use PHP in their systems.