Best Programming Languages for Web Development In 2024

Can you imagine doing business without a website? Well, the answer is undoubtedly a ‘no’. In today’s world, having a website is essential to build a solid presence of your business online.

Moreover, websites allow businesses to reach out to a wider audience around the globe. So, the significance of website development cannot be undermined.

When it comes to developing a new website, the choice of programming language matters a lot. That is why developers want to use only the best programming language for web development. However, making a choice isn’t as easy as it seems to be.

What is a Programming Language and the Current Scenario of Web Development?

A programming language refers to a set of instructions written in a certain language that programmers can use to communicate with computers, perform tasks, and create software programs. They are the fundamental unit in the world of technology. The instructions are incomprehensible machine code structures having a definite syntax to perform tasks.

Coming into existence in the early 19th century, Algorithmic Language (ALGOL), Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL), and Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC) were the predecessors. Pascal and C came around during the 1970s while it was only in the 2000s that languages like PHP and Ruby came into being.

These programming languages are revolutionizing web development, heralding the new digital age. Today, there are nearly 200 million active websites on the internet. Choosing the right languages for your web project has become crucial to stand out with high-performing websites.

To simplify various tasks of developers, here is a rich compilation of the best web development languages in 2024. Read on to explore the details!

The Best Web Development Programming Languages

In this section, you will explore the complete list of the best web development languages. Let’s dive in!

1. JavaScript (JS)

JavaScript is undoubtedly one of the best web development languages to use in 2024. It allows developers to build user-friendly, modern, and dynamic web applications. The best thing about JS is that it works well for both front-end and back-end.

On the client side, this programming language allows the creation of interactive features for easy navigation of websites. When it comes to the server side, JavaScript provides several frameworks and libraries that allow developers to create a wide range of functionalities.

Top features of JavaScript

• JavaScript can run anywhere, including mobile devices, cloud, servers, containers, and browsers.
• JS offers many modern and popular JavaScript frameworks like Express, Sails, Gatsby, Sails, Next, Svelte, etc.
• It offers regular updates and allows you to stay relevant all the time.
• JavaScript can easily integrate with many other programming languages.
• Also, JavaScript uses various add-ons like Greasemonkey to extend its functionality.
• It offers data validation functionality.

Pros:

• JavaScript is fast and can easily run on browsers without any complication.
• JavaScript can seamlessly integrate with CSS and HTML for web development.
• JavaScript has a huge community and allows resolution of potential issues faster.
• It creates real-time, data-rich, and dynamic web apps and sites.

Cons:

• Compatibility issues at times due to different interpretations of codes on different browsers.
• Multiple inheritances are not allowed.
• JavaScript may give rise to security vulnerabilities.
• It lacks standardization across various implementations.

Popular Frameworks of JavaScript

ReactJS

ReactJS is an open-source, free, front-end JavaScript library ideal for building beautiful user interfaces and engaging dynamic applications. Without needing to create a new page from scratch, you can directly add React components to your existing project and build interactive UIs. Moreover, it is also popular for full stack development in the MERN stack & Remix.

React’s Virtual DOM allows developers to conveniently write declarative content, boosts performance, and lowers complexities for faster web app development. Also, its JSX helps in keeping the codes simple and elegant. While its one-way data binding makes maintainability and debugging simpler. It allows developers to isolate problems effectively, thereby ensuring hassle-free refactoring of codes.

Impressively, React boasts a vast community of experienced and skilled developers. So, you can instantly get the best support during your development process.

Vue

Vue is a well-known JavaScript framework that is popular among developers owing to its simplicity and ease of use. It is a front-end, open-source framework suitable for building single-page applications (SPAs) and user interfaces.

Additionally, Vue supports virtual DOM, which is a creative and cost-effective way of making quick changes to web applications. Its two-way data binding feature enables automatic UI updates and model components in real-time, ensuring a seamless user experience. Moreover, the CSS transition features smoothly apply transitions to HTML elements.

The main reason for the growing use of Vue is that it is scalable, versatile, and adaptable. Based on your specific use case, you can leverage Vue as a library or a framework.

AngularJS

Yet another popular JavaScript framework is AngularJS. It is a client-side open-source framework maintained by Google. AngularJS allows the developers to conveniently reuse, test, extend, and maintain the codes, making it a highly preferable front-end framework.

Angular supports both one-way and two-way data binding. It updates data in the model layer and the data layer simultaneously, lowering the tedious work of developers. Also, the plug-and-play feature of this framework makes it easier to add existing components to new apps. Moreover, its MVC architecture makes Angular ideal for client-side development.

Hence, one can say that owing to the exceptional Angular performance optimization tips and features, this technology will continue to stay high in demand in the coming years too.

2. TypeScript

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript. It is an open-source, free, and high-level programming language developed by the tech giant, Microsoft.

TypeScript stands 5th among the most widely used programming languages globally in 2024. It extends the capabilities of JS to create heavy codebases for enterprise-grade apps.

Top features of TypeScript

• The type system of TypeScript prevents common errors and allows restructuring codes confidently.
• It can be used for both the front end and the back end, enhancing the developer’s productivity when building complex applications.
• Easy transpiling with JavaScript engines.

Pros:

• It is suitable for large-scale projects.
• Developers can easily identify bugs and errors due to its static type checking.
• Seamless support for IDEs like Virtual Studio, WebStorm, Eclipse, Atoms, Cats, etc.
• Rapid refactoring without affecting the app’s behavior for high-end code maintainability.

Cons:

• You must be well-known with JavaScript beforehand.
• More code writing that slows down the development process.
• Not entirely secure and error-free.

3. Python

Simple yet elegant Python is next on the list of the best web development languages. It is a multi-purpose, modular, and powerful programming language ideal for developing web applications and prototypes.

Despite having a smaller community compared to other languages, Python is the future of programming language for web development. It is the best career-boosting server-side scripting language for beginners in the IT industry.

Moreover, Python is the perfect language for machine learning and data science adding to its popularity. Netflix, NASA, YouTube, and Spotify are among the top platforms that make use of Python.

Top features of Python

• It has in-built data structures, GUI, dynamic binding, and supports OOPs to speed up web app development.
• It is an interpreted language, making Python-based programs platform-independent.
• Python comes with many tools for statistics, mathematics, and computational science making it the best for deep learning, data, & statistical computation.
• Python allows a smooth integration of ML and AI into websites to easily understand customer behavior and deliver custom solutions.
• It also offers dynamic typing capabilities to build complex and large websites.

Pros:

• Python’s built-in extensive libraries, automated memory allocation, & non-compiling features improve the productivity of programmers for rapid development.
• It supports several systems and platforms like iOS, Windows, and Linux.
• Python enhances the readability and maintainability of codes.
• Simple and secure scaling of complex web applications.
• Python contains an Integrated Development and Learning Environment (IDLE) which makes it convenient and easy to learn.

Cons:

• Python may not be ideal for memory-intensive tasks.
• In comparison to other low-level languages, Python has certain performance limitations.
• In some cases, Python may be slower compared to other programming languages.

Popular Frameworks of Python

Flask

Flask is a notable micro-framework of Python for the backend that lets developers easily build simple web applications. Some of the prominent features of the framework include accessibility, flexibility, and URL routing. Owing to the low learning curve of Flask, it proves to be an ideal framework for both seasoned professionals and novice developers.

Web2py

Web2py is a Python framework that enables developers to create data-driven large web apps with minimal effort. Moreover, it is also efficient and scalable. As a result, Web2py has become a top choice for large and dynamic projects.

Django

Django is an open-source, high-level Python framework for developing web applications. According to a Stack Overflow Annual Developer Survey, it is one of “the most desired frameworks in 2023”. Living up to its popularity, Django indeed makes it easier for developers to build web apps that are faster, scalable, and offer great security.

Django’s versatility makes it ideal for developing a variety of applications like social networking sites, content management systems, scientific computing platforms, and more. Developers mainly use this framework to write and organize codes more efficiently and lower their web development time.

4. PHP

When it comes to the best programming language for web development, you cannot overlook Hypertext Preprocessor or PHP. Even though it faces tough competition from other languages like Python and JavaScript, there is still a huge demand for PHP among web developers. PHP is a general-purpose and dynamic programming language that finds wide use for developing server-side applications.

If you want to build simple yet dynamic websites, this scripting language is the perfect choice. Some of the popular websites that use PHP include WordPress.org, Drupal, Facebook, and Wikipedia.

Top features of PHP

• PHP is a productive programming language ideal for web development.
• It is not limited to outputting HTML. Instead, it can generate PDF files, images, texts, and animations.
• PHP comes with the Xdebug extension which is an excellent choice for efficient debugging.
• The language supports several automation tools for testing and deploying different applications.

Pros:

• PHP comes with clear syntax and is easy to learn and use.
• PHP has a massive ecosystem and offers great community support.
• It is suitable for prototyping and enhancing the development speed of websites.
• PHP can easily integrate with HTML and ensures seamless web development.
• Dynamic typing helps in making the codes more adaptable and flexible.

Cons:

• PHP lacks error handling and security features (XSS and SQL injections).
• There are certain performance limitations in comparison to other programming languages.
• PHP lacks standardization across diverse implementations. So, there is a chance that you might come across compatibility issues.
• For complex and large applications, slower performance can be an issue.

Popular Frameworks of PHP

Laravel

One of the significant frameworks of PHP is Laravel. This readily accessible, open-source framework comes with optimal built-in features and is an ideal choice for beginners.

Laravel’s simple and elegant syntax makes it easy to write simple and clean codes, allowing developers to add a wide range of functionalities to their applications. Meeting modern needs, Laravel can be easily paired with Vue or Next to build performant web and mobile applications with a sturdy backend behind the curtains.

Moreover, Laravel has a vibrant community that keeps you updated with the latest technologies and trends. Laravel also offers include MVC architecture, real-time event broadcasting, a fast routing engine, and multiple backends for a session and cache storage.

Symfony

Symfony is an open-source PHP framework ideal for mobile app and web development. If you want to build large apps with multiple users, this framework is a great choice. It aims to simplify and speed up the development processes while giving full control of the tasks.

Relatively new, Symfony has gathered a strong community of developers. So, in case you have any issues while developing the web applications, you can reach out to proficient experts and resolve them quickly.

Yii2

Another popular PHP framework is Yii2. It is suitable for developing small websites and enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs). Extremely developer-friendly, it offers component-based architecture suitable for large apps. Its impressive features include robust security, high customization, an intuitive environment, and detailed documentation that makes it a language to look forward to in 2024.

5. HTML

HyperText Markup Language, or, HTML is the oldest, client-side programming language used by developers for building web applications. As a foundational language of almost all web solutions, the syntaxes of this language have undergone several changes over the years. However, HTML is still relevant and not likely to go out of trend any time soon.

As the best programming language for web development, HTML can easily integrate with other programming languages. Moreover, it is simple to understand, use, and implement.

Besides stunning web applications, when it comes to building prototypes and layouts, it is always advisable to leverage plain HTML.

Top features of HTML

• HTML is platform-independent.
• It offers media support and can display video, images, and audio.
• It comes with offline capabilities and allows developers to build websites even when the internet is down.
• HTML helps optimize web pages for enhanced searchability.

Pros:

• HTML comes with a clear syntax. So, it is quite simple to learn and use.
• It is ideal for enhancing the development speed of website applications.
• HTML has an active community that facilitates easy resolution of potential issues.
• Easy integration with other languages like PHP and JavaScript for the development of interactive and dynamic web applications.

Cons:

• The capabilities and functionalities of HTML are limited.
• Updating and maintaining large and complex websites built using HTML can be a little difficult.
• The interactivity of websites is also limited.

6. Ruby

When discussing the best web development languages that can be used for both the front-end and the back-end, you cannot overlook Ruby. This object-oriented, server-side programming language is inspired by Python and Perl allowing developers to build complex web apps with ease.

The main reason for the growing popularity of Ruby is that the Ruby on Rails framework powers websites like Shopify, Github, GoodReads, Airbnb, and Groupon. Isn’t it a big deal? Indeed, it is!

Top features of Ruby

• Ruby is expressive, and dynamic, and has an MVC structure for the rapid development of web apps.
• Ruby supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural and functional programming.
• It works on the principle of least surprise (POLS) for predictable user outcomes.
• Ruby also allows for DevOps and data processing.

Pros:

• Ruby is compatible with frameworks like Rack, Padrino, Grape, and more.
• Ruby is free to use and can lower the overall development costs.
• It is a beginner’s programming language with an easy learning curve.
• The dynamic typing capabilities of Ruby allow for more flexible codes that are easy to maintain.
• Its ‘Gems’ facilitate full-stack development like with RoR.

Cons:

• Ruby offers limited support for parallelism and concurrency.
• It is less secure compared to other languages Like Golang or Java.
• Ruby-based web apps are slower in performance than many other languages.
• Ruby is less performant with unstable debugging and error handling.

Popular Frameworks of Ruby

Sinatra

Sinatra is a prominent framework of Ruby that offers a domain-specific language. As a result, it does not have many complexities and configurations making it ideal for developers to create web applications in a hassle-free manner.

However, Sinatra is known to be a microframework. It lacks a lot of features that are available in larger frameworks like Ruby on Rails.

Ruby on Rails (RoR)

Ruby on Rails is undoubtedly the most popular framework of Ruby. The framework comes with a variety of features and libraries and simplifies web app development for developers.

The MVC architecture of RoR helps separate the user interface, data, and business logic into different components. It has built-in security measures to defend against cross-site request forgery and cross-site scripting. The framework also offers dynamic database support, allowing developers to select multiple databases like PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MySQL.

Its code generator is a highly appealing feature for developers as it allows them to automatically build portions of the application. Moreover, its rendering HTML templates and updating databases is simple and easy making it a favorite for futuristic web development.

Jekyll

Jekyll is a simple tool associated with the popular programming language of Ruby. It is a site generator that also offers a Liquid templating engine allowing developers to build static eCommerce sites. Jekyll empowers the developers to conveniently transform text into static websites.

7. Java

Java is a popular object-oriented general-purpose, server-side programming language. Top companies like Google, Oracle, and IBM have leveraged Java’s flexibility and scalability, making Java a worldwide choice for cutting-edge web projects.

The best thing about this programming language is that it is scalable horizontally and vertically with minimal code changes lending more power to your web solution.
One of the reasons that make Java trendy among programmers is its backward compatibility and automatic memory management.

It enables the older systems of businesses to be compatible with the newer ones. Not only Java is the best for web apps, but it also facilitates mobile apps, chatbots, IoT devices, AI-based apps, games, AR/VR apps, DevOps, and more.

Top features of Java

• Java offers ‘Write Once, Run Anywhere’ (WORA) for lending reusability to codes.
• It is platform-independent and can easily be deployed on multiple platforms.
• Also, it provides strong error-handling and type-checking capabilities.
• It supports multithreading and distributed computing.
• It enables a secure login mechanism, ciphers, digital signatures, advanced authentication, and cryptography, to optimize the security of your applications.

Pros:

• Java provides a wide range of open-source libraries.
• It has a huge, established community of developers.
• Java is secure and robust.

Cons:

• Memory management can be expensive when using Java.
• Compared to C and C++, Java is a little slow.
• Java has a steep learning curve and isn’t ideal for beginners.
• Java isn’t as flexible as Python.

Popular Frameworks of Java

Spring

When it comes to the popular frameworks of Java, Spring tops the list. It runs on a Java virtual machine (JVM) and boasts autoconfiguration enabling microservices and stand-alone apps. It is suitable for developing enterprise web applications. However, several organizations also use Spring to build reliable, scalable, and secure serverless applications, task automation, and async app development.

Hibernate

Another significant framework of Java is Hibernate. It is a lightweight, non-invasive, and open-source Java ORM framework ideal for developing objects independent of the database software. Also, it supports functionalities like auto primary key generation, auto DDL operations, and cache memory, and its engine-agnostic nature makes it beloved by tech-savvies.

Play Framework

The Play framework is a popular, open-source web framework that allows developers to create web applications and REST APIs. It provides full-stack flexibility and high productivity ensuring project completion within a short period.

Moreover, the Play framework is also simple to learn. As a result, developers can conveniently get started with web development without any hassle or delay.

8. C#

C# is a general-purpose, client-side programming language that developers use for building web applications, server and desktop applications, and video games. Developed by the tech giant, Microsoft, its demand is not likely to go down owing to its simplicity, readability, and ease of use. Moreover, C# comes with tons of features that account for its growing popularity.

For instance, its null conditional operator allows developers to perform null-checking hassle-free, the Generic feature prevents the duplication of codes, while Ranges and Indexes help intuitively create slices from collections.

The best thing about using C# is that it significantly cuts down the app development time and allows companies to launch their web apps faster.

Top features of C#

• C# provides a wide range of appealing libraries and frameworks.
• Its MVC structure, flexibility, and versatility make it perfect for developing various enterprise-grade software components, web apps, games, cross-platform apps, etc.
• Owing to the common language runtime, C# is platform-independent.

Pros:

• C# is a safer option in comparison to C and C++.
• It is suitable for all types of web development.
• It speeds up the execution and compilation process.
• C# is capable of working effectively with shared codebases for interoperability.

Cons:

• Developers may require more time and effort to master C#.
• Sound knowledge and expertise are essential to resolve errors.
• C# is less flexible in comparison to C++.

Popular Frameworks of C#

ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is an open-source framework that finds wide applications in web development. It proves to be an ideal alternative to the different Java-based frameworks and helps develop dynamic web applications.

ASP.NET Core is also suitable for building mobile backends and IoT apps. The unique architecture allows easy testing of the applications built with this framework.

Blazor

Combining HTML and CSS with C#, Blazoe is a front-end framework for creating web UIs.

It offers its hosting platforms named Blazor WebAssembly (WASM) and Blazor Server for supporting client-side and serve-side hosting. Also, its speed creates SPAs. Moreover, its JavaScript compatibility renders it a go-to framework for coders.

9. Swift

Swift is more popular for iOS mobile apps with the iOS or Apple ecosystem. However, its expressive syntax and ease of writing have also led it to be used for web applications, making it one of the best web development languages.

Ideal for client-side development, Swift allows developers to easily find core errors. It helps eliminate the risk of low-code quality and minimizes the time spent on debugging. Moreover, when you use Swift, scaling your applications becomes super easy. Also, it ensures increased speed of development, better performance, and greater safety of apps.

Top features of Swift

• Swift comes with powerful generics that allow developers to write reusable and flexible functions with ease.
• Additionally, its memory safety feature automatically manages memory and helps avoid unsafe behavior.

Pros:

• Swift ensures high performance and development of complex and large web apps.
• Swift is ideal for developing macOS and native iOS applications.
• The clear syntax of Swift makes code easy to maintain.

Cons:

• Comparatively young and yet to fully develop.
• Limited interoperability with IDEs and 3rd-party tools
• No support for previous iOS versions.

Popular Frameworks of Swift

Vapor

Vapor is a web framework that allows developers to easily build server-side applications. The simplicity and expressiveness of its syntax make Vapor a top choice among developers.

Lottie

Lottie is an ideal Swift framework for Android, iOS, and the web. It enables developers to conveniently add fully customizable and complex animations to apps.

10. Kotlin

Declared by Google as ‘the official language of Andriod development in 2017’, you cannot miss Kotlin in this list of the best programming languages for web development. It is a high-level programming language that helps build web applications, cross-platform apps, app logic, analytics, and so much more

The concepts and syntaxes of Kotlin are similar to those of Java, Scala, and C#. Instead of being an out-of-the-box language, it draws inspiration from other popular languages that have been used for web development for decades.

Kotlin is known to be a statically typed language and functions on the Java Virtual Machine. It comes with advanced features like null-safety and enables developers to easily avoid runtime errors.

Top features of Kotlin

• Kotlin comes with extension functions like internalExtensionFunction, publicExtensionFunction, etc.
• It supports complete Java interoperability.
• Kotlin has a lazy-loading feature.
• Also, it is less code-extensive compared to many other languages.

Pros:

• The code of Kotlin is concise and more readable.
• Using this best programming language for web development can lower your development costs.
• The apps built with Kotlin are easier and cheaper to maintain.
• It supports cross-platform development.

Cons:

• The compilation speed may be a little slower.
• Smaller development community.

Popular Frameworks of Kotlin

Vert.x

This framework is event-driven and supports both Kotlin and Java programming languages. If you want to develop reactive web applications, Vert.x is an ideal option. Moreover, it is also suitable for building microservices.

Ktor

Another popular framework of Kotlin is Ktor. It is an open-source framework that finds wide use in the development of APIs and asynchronous web services.

The best thing about the Ktor framework is that it is easy to use and lightweight. Therefore, more developers are leveraging this framework for building high-performing applications.

Spring Boot

If you want to build microservices and REST APIs in Kotlin, Spring Boot is the perfect choice. This framework is easy to set up. Moreover, it comes with a lot of features that enable developers to build scalable and robust applications in much less time.

11. GoLang

Finally, in the list of the best web development languages, last but not least is GoLang. It emerged as an answer to the problems that arose while using other popular languages. The ease of use of this language and its vast collection of libraries make web app development a breeze for developers.

Golang is popularly used for modern solutions like real-time web apps, microservices, cloud infrastructures, DevOps and automation, robotics, AI, data science, and networking platforms. If you want to develop a web application that is likely to handle heavy traffic, this programming language is the perfect choice.

Top features of GoLang

• It comes with a garbage collection feature and prevents developers from worrying about freeing up space.
• Dependable latency-free Automation.
• GoLang has a powerful standard library that makes web server development easier.
• The concurrency feature of Golang enables parallel processing.

Pros:

• IT automates memory management.
• GoLang provides a rich library of in-built features and functionalities like Go Binaries and a powerful compiler.
• The language allows making instant changes to the programs.
• Golang is compatible with C.

Cons:

• Sloppy coding can be an issue.
• No GUI library is available.

Popular Frameworks of GoLang

Echo

Echo is a popular framework of GoLang. If you are in search of a low-level and simple framework, Echo is the perfect option. It allows developers to build and manage scalable and robust APIs effortlessly. Also, Echo ensures that apps can effectively handle increased functionalities and traffic.

Gin

Gin is a GoLang framework that finds use for web servers and writing APIs. The best part of this framework is that it is straightforward to learn. As a result, it becomes a prominent choice for developers who want to get started with web app development immediately.

Go-JSON-Rest

Go-JSON-Rest is an open-source GoLang framework that allows developers to easily create custom APIs. It is easy to learn and is lightweight.

How to Choose the Best Programming Language for Web Development?

Confused about selecting the best programming language for web development for your next project? Delve into the prominent aspects you need to factor in!

Project Complexity

Before you start looking for the best web development languages, understanding your needs is crucial. Remember, the complexity and size of your project can have a significant impact on the choice of programming language.

For instance, if you want to build simple websites, using languages like HTML and Python would do. However, when it comes to working on complex web development projects, using C# or Java is essential.

Ease of Mastering

Not all programming languages are equal. While some are simple, others might be complicated. When looking for the best programming language for web development, considering the learning curve is crucial.

Learning a completely new language takes time and effort. Therefore, it is wise to select a language that is easy to master for faster development.

Python, JavaScript, HTML, and PHP are among the popular programming languages that are simple to understand and learn. Gaining proficiency in these languages will allow you to learn the complex ones easily in the future.

Maintainability

The maintainability of languages is a vital factor to consider when choosing the best programming language for web development. Be sure to select a language that is simple and easy to maintain. It can save a lot of your valuable time and effort in the long run.

Demand

The demand for different web development languages keeps changing over time. Therefore, it is wise to select a programming language that will continue to be in demand in the coming years.

Harikrishna Kundariya

CEO, eSparkBiz

Harikrishna Kundariya, a marketer, developer, IoT, chatbot and blockchain savvy, designer, co-founder, Director of eSparkBiz @Software Development Company where you can Hire Software Developers. His 14+ experience enables him to provide digital solutions to new start-ups based on Web app development.