Are you considering a career in back end web development but you’re not sure which programming languages to learn? There are hundreds of programming languages in existence, but thankfully you only need to learn a handful of them to have a successful career in web development. Here are the top five back end languages aspiring Web Developers should know.
JavaScript
One of the three core programming languages for front end web development, JavaScript is also used on the back end. More specifically, Back End Developers use a JavaScript Runtime Environment (RTE) called Node.js to handle updates from the client side of the website and build expandable network applications capable of processing multiple user requests simultaneously. Node.js has become a popular tool for the back end because it’s fast, efficient, lightweight, and capable of managing heavy workloads. Some of the most popular JavaScript frameworks used on the server side include Express.js, Next.js, Mocha.js, Meteor.js, and Nest.js.
Why Web Developers Love JavaScript
JavaScript consistently ranks as the most widely used programming language in the world. Its popularity can be largely attributed to the fact that JavaScript can be used on both the client and server sides for end-to-end programming. This type of versatility simply doesn’t exist in other programming languages. JavaScript is also well liked because it’s relatively easy to set up, learn, and use plus it’s more scalable than many other programming languages. It’s also updated frequently and supported by an active, thriving community that contributes to its growth.
Why Web Developers Hate JavaScript
One of the biggest complaints about JavaScript is that it doesn’t scale very well; because JavaScript is a dynamic language, the code can become cumbersome when used on larger applications. Web Developers also don’t like that JavaScript requires the installation of many modules which results in dependency conflicts that need to be resolved. There are also inconsistencies in JavaScript’s syntax, which can frustrate programmers
Why JavaScript Is Necessary
As a Web Developer working on either the front or back end, there’s no way to get around JavaScript. More than 68% of professional Web Developers surveyed by Stack Overflow in 2021 report extensive use of JavaScript in the year prior. JavaScript has been the number one programming language in the world for many years and doesn’t show any signs of giving up its top position, which makes it a necessary skill to learn.
Python
Python is an extremely versatile object-oriented high-level programming language. Its simple syntax, libraries, frameworks, and adaptability makes Python a popular choice for back end programming where it’s used to build desktop, mobile, and gaming applications. Python is also frequently used in emerging fields like machine learning, AI, data analytics, and task automation. Python frameworks commonly used in back end web development include Django, Flask, Pyramid, CherryPy, Bottle, and Falcon, just to name a few.
Why Web Developers Love Python
Web Developers like Python because it’s a simple language that’s easy to learn, code, and understand. There is a multitude of Python libraries available to Web Developers, which makes it easier to program using Python compared to many other back end languages. Python is also widely regarded for its flexibility due to its ability to be embedded and extended into other programming languages. This ease of use and flexibility often translates into faster coding and improved productivity as well, increasing Python’s popularity.
Why Web Developers Hate Python
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world, but it does have its limitations. For starters, Python is an interpreted language and executed line by line which can slow down execution; if speed is a high priority for the project, then programmers will need to utilize another language. Another issue with Python is that it’s not native to mobile environments making it a weak language for mobile computing. Python’s memory consumption also tends to be high compared to other languages.
Why Python Is Necessary
Python is a necessary skill for Web Developers to have because it’s a popular general-purpose language that offers multiple functionalities; Python is not only an integral part of web development, it’s also widely used in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, commercial and enterprise applications, games, computer-aided design (CAD) applications), audio and video applications, and more. Thanks to its versatility, Python is used by a wide range of well-known companies like Google, Netflix, Youtube, Instagram, Yahoo, Reddit, and Spotify. This prevalence, popularity, and versatility make Python an essential language for Back End Web Developers to learn.
Java
Java is a high-level programming language that’s widely used on server-side projects. Java is a versatile language and can be used in a variety of contexts, including desktop, mobile, and numerical computing plus business applications and games. Its most common usage is in the creation of applications, which can then be run on any computer with a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed on it. Popular Java frameworks include Spring, Hibernate, Struts, Grails, Play, Google Web Toolkit (GWT), Vaadin, and Apache Wicket.
Why Web Developers Love Java
Web Developers love Java because it’s a general-purpose language that can help create programs and applications on any platform; because Java includes a feature referred to as “Write Once, Run Anywhere” or WORA, compiled Java code is platform-independent and can run on any operating system. Java is also well liked because it’s a high-level language with simple syntax, which makes it easy to learn, understand, write, debug, and maintain. Plus as an object-oriented language, Java is more flexible, reusable, organized, and secure than other programming languages.
Why Web Developers Hate Java
The biggest complaint about Java is its poor performance. This can be attributed in large part to Java being a high-level language. As a high-level language, Java can’t communicate with hardware directly — it has to be interpreted. This process consumes a lot of memory, which makes Java considerably slower than native languages like C and C++.
Why Java Is Necessary
Java is a necessary skill for Back End Web Developers to learn because it’s a mature language that’s widely used; it’s been around for 20 years, runs on 13 billion devices, and is used by more than 10 million developers worldwide. Thanks to Java’s ability to run across platforms, it’s used in a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, automobiles, televisions, and Blu-ray players. It’s also considered the standard for enterprise computing with more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies using Java on the back end. That means Java won’t be going away anytime soon and you’d be wise to learn Java coding skills.
PHP
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a general-purpose scripting language that’s often used to add functionality to interactive web pages. One of the first languages that could be embedded directly into HTML, PHP is also used for managing databases, performing system functions, encrypting data, handling forms, setting cookies, and restricting page access. Most notably, WordPress—the most popular content management system in the world—is written in PHP.
Laravel, Symfony, Yii 2, CakePHP, Zend Framework/Laminas Project, CodeIgniter, FuelPHP, Slim, and Phalcon, are some of the most commonly used PHP frameworks.
Why Web Developers Love PHP
One of the top reasons Web Developers love working with PHP is it offers a much faster loading rate than many other back end languages — it’s reported to be three times faster than Python. PHP also has a built-in database connection which allows it to easily link up with almost any kind of database, reducing the time it takes to develop web applications. Developers also prize PHP for its platform independence; it works on a variety of operating systems including Windows, Linux, UNIX, and macOS.
Why Web Developers Hate PHP
One of the biggest complaints lodged against PHP is that it’s not very secure; because PHP is open source, there are code vulnerabilities that can be exploited by any programmer with malicious intent. PHP also lacks debugging tools that look for errors and warnings, which makes it prone to handling errors. In addition, PHP doesn’t scale well or offer libraries to meet modern needs, so it’s not a good choice for large applications.
Why PHP Is Necessary
Though the popularity of PHP has been declining in recent years, there’s no chance it’ll go away anytime in the foreseeable future — it’s just too prevalent to disappear; PHP is currently used on the back end of more than 78% of all websites including WordPress, Slack, Wikipedia, Etsy, and MailChimp. And although PHP Developers earn a bit less than Ruby, Java, and Python Developers, there are still many jobs available in PHP development, which makes PHP an essential back end language.
Ruby
Ruby is a high-level, object-oriented language that’s most commonly used to build web applications. A flexible, general-purpose programming language, Ruby can also be used in a variety of other ways such as prototyping, DevOps, data analysis, proof of concepts, web scraping, automation, static site generation, and more. Ruby is one of the easiest programming languages to learn and works across multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. The most popular Ruby framework is Ruby on Rails; additional Ruby frameworks include Hanami, Grape, Cuba, and Padrino.
Why Web Developers Love Ruby
The number one reason Web Developers love Ruby is because it’s mature and well-maintained with lots of libraries, plugins, and gems (coding packages) that speed up the creation of web applications. In fact, Ruby is considered one of the most time-efficient programming languages in existence, especially when used in tandem with the Ruby on Rails framework. Developers also like that Ruby works on multiple platforms and it maintains the highest standard of safety with many built-in security features.
Why Web Developers Hate Ruby
One of the biggest problems with Ruby is that it’s difficult to debug and can generate an error during runtime, which often frustrates programmers. Another common complaint is that applications built with Ruby run more slowly compared to competing back end languages; this lagging speed not only affects site performance, it also makes it difficult to scale applications created with Ruby. Ruby is also not nearly as flexible as some other back end languages, causing programmers to regard it as more of a niche language.
Why Ruby Is Necessary
Let's be honest — the primary reason Back End Web Developers need to learn Ruby is so they can use Ruby on Rails; there’s no better way to create web applications quickly and easily than by using the Ruby on Rails framework. This ease of use has made Ruby on Rails very popular among programmers. In fact, more than 57% of Web Developers surveyed by Stack Overflow in 2021 indicated that they love using Ruby on Rails. With the popularity of Ruby on Rails, it’s a good idea for aspiring programmers to learn how to use Ruby.
How To Become a Back End Web Developer
The best way to start a career in back end web development is to enroll in a bootcamp. Often viewed as a viable alternative to a traditional degree, these skills-focused programs operate on an intensive schedule to get you career-ready in less than a year. That’s especially good news when you consider how many open positions there are in the field; you can start to earn back your financial investment shortly after graduation.
Depending upon your location, you might be able to find a web development bootcamp in your area. If there are none available or you prefer the convenience of learning from home, there are many excellent web development bootcamps available live online. These offer the same live instruction and hands-on learning as in-person bootcamps, but without the inconvenience of commuting to class.
If you want to explore back end web development but a bootcamp is too big of a commitment right now, you might consider taking web development classes. That way you can start learning the basics of web development while gauging your interest in pursuing a career in the field.