What are programming languages?

Programming languages are languages that are made up of instructions for computers and other machines to solve problems, perform tasks, or analyze data. A computer processes every action or bit of data into binary code, which consists of ones and zeroes. A programming language takes command from a human language and translates it into binary code for the computer to process. There are two types of programming languages: low-level and high-level. Low-level languages are closer to binary code and easier for the computer to understand, while high-level languages are more sophisticated and take more time for a machine to process.

Why is learning programming languages important?

Learning programming languages is important because you can use them to develop new software and applications that others can use. Computer programming is increasingly important in a technologically connected world, and if you know how to use programming languages, you can help create innovative technologies that make life easier and better for consumers. The computer industry will continue to grow, and companies are constantly looking for employees with a thorough knowledge of programming languages who can work to develop the next generation of applications and devices.

What career opportunities can arise from learning programming languages?

The computer programming industry has a vast array of lucrative jobs for employees who understand programming languages, from software and app developers to systems administrators to network security engineers. Opportunities include designing and programming apps and software as well as working as a programmer who helps correct errors in existing software packages. A job as a database administrator allows you to help clients analyze large amounts of information and even recover data that’s been lost. You can also find work as a systems or intelligence analyst and help companies match their computing power to their business objectives and take advantage of new trends.

How can online courses help me learn programming languages?

Online courses in programming languages can show you the basic structure and concepts behind the languages that computers and machines use today so that you can put them to use in your current workplace or in a brand new career. You might also learn the applications of various programming languages in different environments. Courses can help you understand Python, C++, Java, or other popular languages, as well as learn specific uses of these languages across multiple industries. You may also have the opportunity to discover the new programming languages that are on the horizon.

What are the benefits of taking an online Programming Languages course?

Online Programming Languages courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Programming Languages skills. Choose from a wide range of Programming Languages courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Programming Languages courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Programming Languages, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Programming Languages Courses - Learn Programming Languages Online

Explore the Programming Languages Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
C and Go: Classical and Modern Programming
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Code Review, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Software Testing, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, File Management, Integration Testing
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
7.1K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Relational Database Administrator
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, Database Administration, MySQL, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Transformation, Data Store, IBM DB2, Jupyter, Generative AI
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Data Analysis, Debugging, Simulations, Computer Programming Tools, Program Development, Data Structures, Performance Tuning, Data Import/Export
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Go and C++: Programming in Two Successor Languages of C
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Go (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Debugging, Object Oriented Design, Programming Principles, Unit Testing, Algorithms, C (Programming Language), Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Programming, Software Testing, Computer Science, Graph Theory, File Management, Artificial Intelligence, Integration Testing
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
2.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Interactive Data Visualization, Shiny (R Package), Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Relational Databases, Big Data, Data Visualization Software, Ggplot2, Database Design, Data Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Mining, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, Microsoft Excel
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
28K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Programming with Scratch
Skills you'll gain: Animation and Game Design, Computational Thinking, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Storytelling, Scripting, Solution Design, Creativity, Event-Driven Programming, Data Storage
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
95 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Back-End Development
Skills you'll gain: Istio, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Linux Commands, Unit Testing, Application Deployment, NoSQL, Kubernetes, Bash (Scripting Language), MongoDB, Shell Script, Django (Web Framework), Object-Relational Mapping, OpenShift, Git (Version Control System), Cloud Applications, Containerization, Jupyter, Grafana
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
49K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Data Science
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Jupyter, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Peer Review, Data Modeling, Databases, Stored Procedure, Relational Databases, Database Design, Query Languages, Data Science, Database Management, Big Data, Data Cleansing, Data Visualization Software, GitHub, Business Analysis, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
99K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
Skills you'll gain: Computer Science, Debugging, Development Environment, Computer Systems, Web Applications, Graphing, Javascript, Computer Networking, Computational Thinking, Theoretical Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, Hardware Architecture, Arithmetic, Computer Graphics, Operating Systems, Software Development Tools, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Computer Programming, General Mathematics
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Linux Commands, Unit Testing, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Software Design, Version Control, File Management, Jupyter, Scrum (Software Development), Application Deployment, Collaborative Software, Automation, Flask (Web Framework), Web Scraping, Python Programming, Software Testing
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
47K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM DevOps and Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, Istio, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Continuous Integration, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Linux Commands, Agile Software Development, Unit Testing, Cloud Computing Architecture, Application Deployment, Test Driven Development (TDD), Gherkin (Scripting Language), Jenkins, Kubernetes, Bash (Scripting Language), DevOps, Git (Version Control System), Jupyter, Grafana
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
60K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Ball State University
Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Scripting, NumPy, Debugging, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months