Best Programming Languages for Web Development to Explore in 2024

Whether you’re looking to maintain, design or manage an existing website, you need the best tools and frameworks to build the perfect web pages. A good website is one that’s responsive, interactive and visually stunning. When it comes to website development, there are two main categories; 

• Front-end development – which mainly focuses on the user-interface. 
• Back-end development – where all the server side tasks are handled. 

Both of them are essential to deliver the best user experience. 

This will only be possible and best achieved when you have the most popular web development languages in work. Can’t decide which programming language you need to dive in first? 

Here are the best possible programming languages to delve into in 2024. 

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) 

HTML or Hypertext Markup Language is a coding language used to structure and display content on web pages. HTML uses markup symbols or tags to define the structure of a web page content. For example, if you want to create separate paragraphs, lists, and other similar sections within your content, tags in HTML allows you to achieve it and do more. It’s just one of the ways HTML comes in handy. Since HTML is platform-agnostic, you can use it to display web pages on any platform of your choice. 

It’s what sets the stone for front-end development. 

Features of HTML: 

• HTML is compatible with various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices, making it versatile for web display across screens.
• HTML uses tags (like <p>, <h1>, <ul>, etc.) to structure content, making it straightforward to create elements such as paragraphs, lists, headers, and sections.
• HTML supports linking to other pages or websites, enhancing navigation and connectivity across the web.
• HTML allows for embedding images, videos, and audio within web pages to create dynamic content experiences.
• HTML structures enable search engines to effectively index content, improving website visibility and search rankings.
• HTML is supported by all major web browsers, ensuring that content displays correctly across different environments.
• HTML’s straightforward syntax makes it beginner-friendly, ideal for those starting in web development.
• HTML forms the basis for front-end development and works seamlessly with CSS and JavaScript for styling and functionality.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language which allows developers to create pages which are interactive. It’s one of the core technologies that the World Wide Web favors and has many features which makes your website versatile. JavaScript is widely used as a high-level language to create and manage dynamic websites and it functions in conjunction with front-end technologies like HTML and CSS. JavaScript makes writing & understanding code easier. JavaScript uses a prototype-based model for object-oriented programming. If you want to enhance user experience and have interactive features such as validation, animation, dynamic content updates without that many page reloads, JavaScript is the answer. 

Features of JavaScript: 

• JavaScript is a lightweight scripting language, making it quick to execute, especially in browsers.
• JavaScript runs in the user’s browser, allowing immediate interaction with the user and reducing server load.
• Variables in JavaScript can change types, offering flexibility and simplifying code development.
• JavaScript can respond to user actions, like clicks, keypresses, and mouse movements, to create interactive web experiences.
• JavaScript supports objects, enabling modular code and efficient data management.
• JavaScript works across different operating systems and web browsers, making it widely accessible.
• JavaScript supports asynchronous operations (like AJAX and Promises) to handle tasks like fetching data without blocking other code.
• JavaScript can interact with and modify the HTML Document Object Model (DOM), allowing for dynamic page updates without reloading.
• JavaScript has extensive frameworks (like React, Angular, and Vue) and libraries (like jQuery) that simplify development and enhance capabilities.
• JavaScript can interact with web APIs, enabling integration with third-party services and tools.

CSS

CSS is an abbreviation for Cascading Style Sheets. 

CSS is a stylesheet language used to control and show how elements appear and are rendered on screen, on paper, in speech, or any other media of your choice. CSS allows web developers to create highly engaging websites with different layouts, colors & fonts. While HTML is used to display actual content of the page, such as written text, CSS is responsible for designing and stylizing the layout. It’s also used for setting the layout, adding visual effects & optimizing the background color. 

Features of CSS: 

• CSS allows you to keep the design (style) separate from the HTML content, making the code cleaner and easier to maintain.
• CSS uses selectors to apply styles to specific HTML elements, classes, and IDs, giving precise control over the look of different parts of the webpage.
• CSS includes features like media queries that adapt content to different screen sizes and devices, creating a mobile-friendly, responsive design.
• CSS provides a wide range of properties to style elements, including colors, fonts, margins, padding, borders, and backgrounds.
• CSS enables animations and transitions, adding smooth, interactive effects to elements without JavaScript.
• CSS’s box model lets developers control layout spacing through margins, borders, padding, and content, facilitating organized, flexible layouts.
• CSS provides powerful layout modules like CSS Grid and Flexbox to design complex, responsive layouts with fewer code lines.
• CSS classes and IDs allow styling to be reused across multiple elements, making it efficient to maintain consistency throughout the website.
• CSS allows the use of custom variables for colors, sizes, and other properties, making it easier to update and manage styles.
• CSS is supported by all major browsers, with tools like vendor prefixes and browser-specific properties ensuring cross-browser functionality.

Python

Python, it’s one of the popular open-source languages for back-end development. What makes Python unique is how it has extensive libraries and frameworks which can support advanced technologies such as Machine Learning, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. Python is versatile, and it’s well suited for automation test scripts & achieving a whole lot more. The best thing about Python is how it allows developers to write complex logic using only a few lines of code. When it comes to code execution, it executes the code line by line, which eventually makes the debugging process easier. 

Features in Python: 

• Python emphasizes code readability with an easy-to-understand syntax, making it accessible to beginners and allowing for faster development.
• Variables in Python don’t need explicit declarations, as types are inferred at runtime, making coding faster and more flexible.
• Python code is executed line by line, which simplifies debugging and allows for interactive testing.
• Python has a rich standard library that provides modules and functions for handling tasks like file I/O, networking, database management, and more.
• Python supports both object-oriented programming (OOP) and functional programming paradigms, providing versatility in programming styles.
• Python runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a widely portable language.
• Python has extensive libraries (like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib) and frameworks (like Django, Flask) for diverse applications, including data science, web development, and machine learning.
• Python handles memory allocation and deallocation automatically, which simplifies development and reduces errors.
• Libraries like Tkinter and PyQt allow for building desktop applications with graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
• Python has a large, active community and extensive documentation, ensuring that help and resources are readily available for developers.

PHP 

PHP is an open-source scripting language. It is used to develop dynamic and complex websites at the same time. PHP works on server-side and is also abundantly used to generate dynamic web pages. As an already interpreted language, PHP doesn’t require any compilation. You can create websites, applications, customer relationship management systems and much more. Just like HTML & CSS, PHP runs across a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux and Unix. PHP comes with a range of built-in function tasks such as database manipulation, file handling and data encryption. 

As a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development. 

Features in PHP: 

• PHP is free to use and distribute, with a large community contributing to its development and extensive documentation available online.
• PHP is primarily a server-side language, executing code on the server to generate dynamic web pages and applications.
• PHP runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is compatible with most web servers, such as Apache and Nginx.
• PHP seamlessly connects with various databases, especially MySQL, making it easy to manage data for web applications.
• PHP has a straightforward syntax that is easy to learn, making it suitable for beginners and experienced developers alike.
• PHP comes with a vast collection of built-in functions for tasks like string manipulation, file handling, and data formatting, streamlining development.
• PHP supports object-oriented programming (OOP) principles, allowing developers to create reusable, modular code.
• PHP includes built-in session management capabilities, making it easy to track user sessions and maintain state in web applications.
• PHP provides extensive error reporting and logging options, which help developers identify and fix issues. 
• PHP has numerous frameworks (like Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter) and libraries that simplify and enhance web application development, promoting best practices.

Java

Java is a programming language owned by Oracle. It’s one of the renowned object-oriented platform-independent solutions which is highly secure. Java’s syntax is mostly influenced by C++. Within Java, the ecosystem works on a multitude of frameworks such as Selenium, JUnit and TestUnit. Java represents data for method manipulation. It promotes modular programming & capitalizes on code reuse. Java works on bytecode which runs on any device powered by Java Virtual Machine (JVM) with cross-platform compatibility. The platform comes with complete support for multithreading. 

Features in Java

• Java is built on the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP), which promotes code reusability, modularity, and easier maintenance through concepts like inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism.
• Java programs are compiled into bytecode, which can run on any device equipped with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This makes Java platform-independent, often summarized as “write once, run anywhere” (WORA).
• Java enforces strict type-checking, which helps catch errors during compilation and enhances code reliability.
• Java includes a garbage collection mechanism that automatically manages memory, freeing up space that is no longer needed and reducing the chances of memory leaks.
• Java supports multithreading, allowing concurrent execution of two or more threads for improved performance and resource utilization in applications.
• Java offers a comprehensive standard library (Java API) that provides built-in classes and methods for tasks ranging from data manipulation and networking to GUI development and database connectivity.
• Java includes several security features, such as a robust security manager and bytecode verification, to protect applications from unauthorized access and ensure safe execution.
• Java can adapt to new environments and has the capability to load classes dynamically, allowing for the extension of applications without modifying existing code.
• Java provides a strong exception handling framework that helps manage runtime errors gracefully, enhancing program stability and user experience.
• Java has a large, active community and extensive documentation, making it easy for developers to find resources, libraries, and frameworks to aid in development.

Ruby on Rails

Web developers around the world are using Ruby as a popular object-oriented language. It’s quite popular in use for back-end development, and is often termed as Ruby on Rails. This is because Ruby works in association with the Rail framework. It has a multitude of features that work in tandem with other scripting languages. Ruby treats everything as an object. It supports concepts of classes, inheritance, and polymorphism. It also promotes modular and reusable code. 

Features of Ruby on Rails: 

• Ruby on Rails follows the MVC pattern, which separates the application into three interconnected components (Model, View, Controller) to keep code organized and maintainable.
• Rails emphasizes conventions, reducing the need for configuration. This approach lets developers focus on functionality by following Rails’ predefined conventions, which simplifies coding and speeds up development.
• Rails encourages DRY by minimizing code duplication, leading to cleaner, more efficient, and maintainable code.
• Rails includes ACTIVE Record, an Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system, which simplifies database interactions by mapping database tables to classes and rows to objects.
• Rails provides automatic routing and RESTful conventions, making it easier to create and manage routes for web applications.
• The asset pipeline manages and compiled CSS, JavaScript, and images, allowing for easy bundling, minification, and organization of assets.
• Rails offers scaffolding tools that generate boilerplate code for basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, allowing developers to quickly prototype applications.
• Rails includes a robust testing framework to support unit, functional, and integration testing, making it easier to build reliable applications.
• Ruby on Rails has access to a vast library of gems (libraries) that extend functionality, simplifying tasks like authentication, authorization, and payments.
• Rails has a large, supportive community with comprehensive documentation, making it easy to find resources, tutorials, and support for development.
• Rails promotes RESTful architecture, encouraging a clean, logical approach to routing and structuring web applications, especially for APIs.
• Rails is a complete framework, covering both front-end and back-end aspects of web development, making it a strong choice for building end-to-end applications.
• Rails includes features to protect against common security threats such as SQL injection, XSS (Cross-Site Scripting), and CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery), providing a secure foundation for web applications.

Swift

Apple introduced Swift back in 2014. Swift is quite remarkable when it comes to developing Apple based app solutions. Whether you’re looking to build an application on iOS, macOS, watchOS or tvOs, Swift serves the purpose most effectively. It offers a comprehensive toolkit which enables users to develop experiences which far outweighs the many available in the present day and age. Swift is incredible when it comes to designing interfaces with enhanced user experience for Apple devices. 

You can integrate any API of your choice and in fact, make the application noteworthy and interesting. 

What sets Swift a class-apart? It’s the features which Swift introduces for customers. 

Features of Swift: 

• Swift is designed to be fast and optimized for performance, often outperforming Objective-C for tasks and reducing memory usage.
• Swift has a clean, expressive syntax, making it easy to read, write, and maintain. It’s beginner-friendly, making it accessible for new developers while powerful enough for seasoned programmers.
• Swift is a strongly typed language that provides type safety, helping to avoid type-related errors. It also has type inference, which reduces the need for explicitly declaring variable types, streamlining code.
• Swift’s optional types help handle null values safely, minimizing runtime crashes due to nil references.
• Swift supports protocol-oriented programming, allowing developers to create flexible and reusable code by defining protocols (interfaces) that structures and classes can adopt.
• Swift uses Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) for memory management, ensuring efficient memory usage without requiring manual memory management.
• Swift supports closures (similar to lambdas in other languages) and functional programming concepts like map, filter, and reduce, allowing for concise and expressive code.
• Swift can work alongside Objective-C code, making it easier to integrate with legacy codebases and allowing developers to transition applications gradually.
• Swift Playgrounds provides a real-time environment to test code snippets and see results immediately, making it ideal for learning and experimenting.
• Swift has built-in error handling with the try, catch, and throw keywords, enabling developers to catch and manage errors effectively.
• Swift is optimized for Apple’s platforms, making it the primary language for developing iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS applications.
• Swift is open source, with contributions from the community and extensive resources available, making it accessible and continuously improving.
• Swift includes support for concurrency with async/await, making it easier to write asynchronous code and manage tasks without complex threading.
• Swift has a vibrant community and extensive documentation, providing tutorials, libraries, and tools for support and learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which language is the best for web development?

There’s no best language for web development. To each their own; for instance, if you’re looking for a front end, you need someone with a significant command of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Planning to gain command in back-end development? Then you need to choose a language from among PHP, Python, or maybe Java based on your choice. These are just a few good languages that you need to have a command of, especially when it comes to web development.

Which language is the most secure for web development?

When it comes to security, JavaScript offers several interesting features that reduce the threat of security breaches in web development. JavaScript promotes secure coding practices with input validations and avoiding global variables, which ultimately helps reduce vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and harmful injection attacks. 

Which is the fastest programming language?

While there are plenty of versatile options for programming and code execution/compilation, Python is one of the fastest programming languages available in the market. Second is Swift, which contributes to the speed behind Apple’s innovative products. Ruby on Rails is also very quick in development and has a decent, easy syntax. Kotlin brings a more modern approach to speed and functionality, whereas C++ is the powerhouse of performance. All these languages are great when it comes to speed! 

Concluding Thoughts 

Choosing the right programming language can make all the difference. If you’re looking to invest in a framework or language that’s fast, secure and visually engaging, then here’s a list of languages which may work in your favor. Each language—whether it’s HTML, CSS, JavaScript for front-end, or Python, PHP, Java, Ruby on Rails for back-end—brings unique capabilities to the table. These languages not only increase user experience but also streamline development. They are also scalable and robust applications. Therefore, whatever might be your end goal, choose a language that compliments your project goals, skill level and offers you the features you need to achieve your vision. 

At Branex, we introduce you to a team that’s skilled in all of the above languages. Our web developers are not only learned and knowledgeable, but they are also skilled in building robust solutions. 

Want to create the perfect digital experience? Call our experts to build you a solution, you deserve.