What is the most popular web programming language?

Question

I have seen various statistics on language popularity based on search engine results, number of books published, open source projects developed, etc. but none of them is specific for web development (on the server side). Almost all of them shows Java, C and C++ as the most popular. I wonder how PHP, which was created explicitly for web development and is rarely used for other purposes, stack up against these languages, Java in particular.

Are there any statistics comparing this languages (not frameworks or IDEs) in a web development context?

Answer 1

In general, it's hard to automatically gather these statistics, because you cannot see what language the server is actually running. On http://www.langpop.com/ you can see the Craigslist job postings for programmers skilled in various languages; that should at least give an indication.

Answer 2

Not an answer, but at least somebody has considered this question before:

http://www.jasonhanley.com/blog/2007/07/26/most-popular-web-languages-frameworks/

Answer 3

This is pretty subjective question in first place so my answer will be

PHP

Without further argumentation.

Answer 4

HyperText Markup Language. ;)

Answer 5

PHP. .NET* as a close second.

* Within .NET, I'd say C# is most popular.

Answer 6

Ruby is certainly gaining traction in web-dev shops too; Rails is pretty easy to learn and bash out an application in.

Answer 7

Updated response*

Found this very interesting article that has a bit more "User & Developer" information here

End Update

I would have to say the MAJORITY of site I have worked on/with have all been php based in some form or another...

I am seeing a lot of mixed php/js/jquery sites popping up.

i believe this stems mostly from the plathera of free information and resources for php -vs- anything M$

Just my 2c

Answer 8

Unfortunately I think it's PHP.

I say unfortunately because PHP sucks!

Answer 9

Count the StackOverflow tags.

Currently, the 3 most popular web-specific languages in order are:

1. J2EE
2. ASP.NET
3. PHP

Answer 10

You can't measure this by looking at Google results extension. That could mean that there is more crappy PHP out there, not that it's more popular. I'm just saying.

Answer 11

I believe and have heard experts telling the best for web are:

1. Java
2. PHP
3. ASP.NET

and even for that matter SSI is used for simple validations on the server side.

Answer 12

Google or search results is not a proper way of measuring. A lot of intranet Java applications are written in Java and .NET also. Java is used for a lot of MVC frameworks, Resin compiles PHP to Java. Also a lot of job placements happen on private mailing lists, not on Craigslist.

Answer 13

Here's a comparison site:

http://www.langpop.com/

Answer 14

Based upon the blogosphere that I read I tend to believe:

1. Java
2. PHP

I have seen arguments about whether HTML and javascript are actually languages, but I definitely think JS is one of the most utilized web languages out there, especially with the countless frameworks (mootools, dojo, mochi, bajax, sajax, solvent, overlib, wz_, qooxdoo, toxic, zembro, yui, x, prototype, scriptaculous, jquery, xoad, symfony, etc etc) and even server side pieces (Ajaxer) all being developed and utilized by the world over.

Sadly, I have no hard statistics to support this.

Answer 15

Define popular?

Popular in regards to what people are talking about? Then clearly the web is running entirely on Rails.

Popular in regards to what is used in the greatest quantity? Then clearly the web is defined by a lot of free/uber-cheap hosting services with the standard LAMP (PHP) setup, all programmed by a 15 year old who thinks M$ must sux0r because the other kids on MySpace told him so.

Popular in regards to what businesses want to run real money making enterprise on? Now we've got question. For anything older then a few years doing e-commerce and the like, it's almost certainly Java (unless we're talking ancient CGI). If it's mostly web design with a few counters and other widgets, PHP. Up and coming, that's a split between ASP.NET taking over the Java space, and Rails making inroads on PHP, but with no threat of extinction to the previous.

Answer 16

If you talk about popularity in terms of how much of the rendered pages are by a language then Python sure scores ahead. (Because Google mostly uses Python.)

Answer 17

My guess would be

1. PHP
2. ASP.NET
3. Java

This is entirely based my gut but here is my rationalization: So many open source CMS Systems are based on it I have to believe PHP is the most widely used. Many businesses like the MS solution so I submit asp.net as number 2. I work primarily in Java so there.

Answer 18

1. PHP
2. ASP.NET (C#)
3. ASP.NET (VB)
4. Classic ASP
5. Ruby
6. Java
7. ColdFusion

Answer 19

Google Insights for Search can show trends in searches regarding various languages and topics. Here is an example: This example shows "web programming" from 2007 to 2009 worldwide.

The top searches were:

1. php web programming

2. php programming

3. java web programming

4. web programming python

5. python web

6. java programming

But, C# was one of the fastest rising searches.

Answer 20

I'm surprised Perl wasn't mentioned. After all, it is called the 'duct tape of the Internet'!