The most popular programming languages in 2025 (and what that even means)

We aggregated data from nine rankings to produce the ZDNET Index of Programming Language Popularity. Here's which languages came out on top and what to make of this information.

We ran a piece last year summarizing an IEEE study of programming-language popularity based on job listings. This article fostered conversation, including debates about whether the languages IEEE used in its survey were even languages.

Most of us are familiar with polls and poll results, especially during campaign seasons. Unfortunately, polls have long been proven to be far from accurate. Some polls have a natural bias for one party or the other (not for nefarious reasons, but just based on how they gather their data). Other polls have demographic or psychographic bias. The bottom line is simple: just because the numbers go up in one poll doesn't mean your candidate will win.

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