Explore Courses
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA by Liverpool Business School
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 15 Months
Popular
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 12 Months
New
Birla Institute of Management Technology Birla Institute of Management Technology Post Graduate Diploma in Management (BIMTECH)
  • 24 Months
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityMS in Data Science
  • 18 Months
Popular
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Programme in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
New
University of MarylandIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • 8-8.5 Months
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 months
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutData Engineer Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradCertificate Course in Business Analytics & Consulting in association with PwC India
  • 06 Months
OP Jindal Global UniversityOP Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience Design
  • 12 Months
Popular
WoolfWoolfMaster of Science in Computer Science
  • 18 Months
New
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDBA Doctorate in Technology (Computer Science)
  • 36 Months
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreCloud Computing and DevOps Program (Executive)
  • 8 Months
New
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAWS Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
upGradupGradCloud Computing Bootcamp
  • 7.5 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration in Digital Leadership
  • 36 Months
New
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Bestseller
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradSAFe® 6.0 Certified ScrumMaster (SSM) Training
  • Self-Paced
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradPMP® certification
  • Self-Paced
IIM KozhikodeIIM KozhikodeProfessional Certification in HR Management and Analytics
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
Duke CEDuke CEPost Graduate Certificate in Product Management
  • 4-8 Months
Bestseller
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutLeading SAFe® 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutCertified ScrumMaster®(CSM) Training
  • 16 Hours
Bestseller
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 4 Months
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutSAFe® 6.0 POPM Certification
  • 16 Hours
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University MS in Machine Learning & AI
  • 18 Months
Popular
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Programme in Machine Learning & AI
  • 13 Months
Bestseller
IIITBIIITBExecutive Program in Generative AI for Leaders
  • 4 Months
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning & Deep Learning (Executive)
  • 8 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 15 Months
Popular
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management
  • 5 Months
Popular
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in AI and Emerging Technologies (Blended Learning Program)
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Dispute Resolution
  • 12 Months
upGradupGradContract Law Certificate Program
  • Self paced
New
ESGCI, ParisESGCI, ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from ESGCI, Paris
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration From Golden Gate University, San Francisco
  • 36 Months
Rushford Business SchoolRushford Business SchoolDoctor of Business Administration from Rushford Business School, Switzerland)
  • 36 Months
Edgewood CollegeEdgewood CollegeDoctorate of Business Administration from Edgewood College
  • 24 Months
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with Concentration in Generative AI
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University DBA in Digital Leadership from Golden Gate University, San Francisco
  • 36 Months
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA by Liverpool Business School
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 15 Months
Popular
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 12 Months
New
Deakin Business School and Institute of Management Technology, GhaziabadDeakin Business School and IMT, GhaziabadMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 12 Months
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityMS in Data Science
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Programme in Data Science (Executive)
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global University
  • 12 Months
WoolfWoolfMaster of Science in Computer Science
  • 18 Months
New
Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University MS in Machine Learning & AI
  • 18 Months
Popular
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (AI/ML)
  • 36 Months
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDBA Specialisation in AI & ML
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Bestseller
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 15 Months
Popular
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Dispute Resolution
  • 12 Months
IIITBIIITBExecutive Program in Generative AI for Leaders
  • 4 Months
New
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Programme in Machine Learning & AI
  • 13 Months
Bestseller
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
New
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradSAFe® 6.0 Certified ScrumMaster (SSM) Training
  • Self-Paced
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutCertified ScrumMaster®(CSM) Training
  • 16 Hours
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutLeading SAFe® 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradPMP® certification
  • Self-Paced
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAWS Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAzure Administrator Certification (AZ-104)
  • 24 Hours
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradAWS Cloud Practioner Essentials Certification
  • 1 Week
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradAzure Data Engineering Training (DP-203)
  • 1 Week
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management
  • 5 Months
Popular
IIM KozhikodeIIM KozhikodeProfessional Certification in HR Management and Analytics
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
Duke CEDuke CEPost Graduate Certificate in Product Management
  • 4-8 Months
Bestseller
Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)Executive PG Programme in Human Resource Management
  • 11 Months
Popular
Goa Institute of ManagementGoa Institute of ManagementExecutive PG Program in Healthcare Management
  • 11 Months
IMT GhaziabadIMT GhaziabadAdvanced General Management Program
  • 11 Months
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityProfessional Certificate in Global Business Management
  • 6-8 Months
upGradupGradContract Law Certificate Program
  • Self paced
New
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyMaster of Business Administration (90 ECTS)
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyMaster in International Management (120 ECTS)
  • 24 Months
Popular
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyB.Sc. Computer Science (180 ECTS)
  • 36 Months
Clark UniversityClark UniversityMaster of Business Administration
  • 23 Months
New
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMaster of Business Administration
  • 20 Months
Clark University, USClark University, USMS in Project Management
  • 20 Months
New
Edgewood CollegeEdgewood CollegeMaster of Business Administration
  • 23 Months
The American Business SchoolThe American Business SchoolMBA with specialization
  • 23 Months
New
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering
  • 24 Months
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Data Engineering
  • 24 Months
The American Business SchoolThe American Business SchoolMBA with specialization
  • 23 Months
New
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering
  • 24 Months
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Data Engineering
  • 24 Months
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutData Engineer Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradBackend Development Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
upGradupGradCloud Computing Bootcamp
  • 7.5 Months
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 5 Months
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutSAFe® 6.0 POPM Certification
  • 16 Hours
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 4 Months
upGradupGradCertificate Course in Business Analytics & Consulting in association with PwC India
  • 06 Months
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months

Top 12 Data Science Programming Languages 2025 [Hand-Picked]

Updated on 04 December, 2024

98.54K+ views
22 min read

Data science is transforming industries worldwide, and experts project the global market for data analytics to reach $132.9 billion by 2026. But what powers this revolution? The data science programming languages make all the difference! Programming languages can turn raw data into valuable insights. Hence, picking the right language is key for building predictive models or visualizing data trends. 

In the fast-evolving field of data science, choosing the right language can be overwhelming, but it’s crucial for boosting productivity and project quality.

In this blog, you will learn about the top 12 programming languages for data science. From Python to R and beyond, this blog will break down their features, use cases, and why they're essential for anyone looking to build a career in data science.

Dive right in!

What is the Role of Programming Languages in Data Science?

Data science is a multi-disciplinary field that analyzes and interprets complex data to uncover patterns, make predictions, and derive actionable insights. It seamlessly integrates mathematics, statistics, machine learning, and programming to assist in complex decision-making processes. 

Data science programming languages provide data scientists with the computational power they need to process vast amounts of data and run sophisticated models.

Programming languages play a vital role in various stages of data science projects, such as:

  • Data Collection & Cleaning: Extracting and preprocessing data for analysis.
  • Model Building: Implementing machine learning algorithms to make predictions or classifications.
  • Data Visualization: Presenting results through charts, graphs, and interactive dashboards.
  • Automation & Scaling: Writing efficient code to automate repetitive tasks and scale models to handle larger datasets. 

Hence, data science programming languages are indispensable to data science as they provide the framework for every step of the data analysis process.

In the following section, you can have a look at the most widely used programming languages that have revolutionized the scope of data science.

12 Top Programming Languages for Data Science

Data science is a diverse field, and so different programming languages cater to different aspects of the discipline. While some languages specialize in statistical analysis and data manipulation, others excel at machine learning, big data processing, or data visualization. 

The choice of programming language in data science depends on project requirements, including the data analyzed, model complexity, and performance needs.

Let's now explore the top 12 data science programming languages commonly used in data science, along with their primary use cases.

Data Science Programming Language

Main Usage Areas

 

Python General-purpose, data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation
SQL Database management, data querying, data manipulation
R Statistical analysis, data visualization, machine learning, bioinformatics
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) Automation, spreadsheet-based analysis, integrating Excel with data processing tools
Julia High-performance computing, scientific computing, machine learning, data analysis
JavaScript Data visualization, web-based interactive analytics, front-end development
Java Big data processing, machine learning, scalability, enterprise-level applications
Scala Big data processing (Apache Spark), functional programming, distributed computing
SAS Statistical analysis, data mining, business intelligence, predictive analytics
MATLAB Mathematical modeling, simulations, data visualization, machine learning
C/C++ High-performance computing, systems programming, algorithm optimization, machine learning
Swift Machine learning, data visualization, mobile data science applications

Let’s now explore the features of some popular programming languages that can maximize efficiency, improve scalability, and ensure the success of your data science efforts. 

1. Python

Python is one of the most popular and versatile data science programming languages used in data science today. It was created by Guido van Rossum in 1989 and released in 1991. Python is a simple language with excellent code readability.

Basic Applications:

  • Data Analysis: Handling, cleaning, and transforming large datasets.
  • Machine Learning: Building predictive deep learning models using popular libraries like TensorFlow, Keras, and Scikit-learn.
  • Data Visualization: Creating charts, graphs, and interactive plots with libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn.

Unique Features: 

  • Readable Syntax: Python's simple and clean syntax makes it easy to learn and understand.
  • Extensive Libraries: Python has a rich set of data science libraries, including Pandas, Numpy, and Matplotlib.

Essential Characteristics:

  • High-Level Language: Python removes many complexities of low-level programming, allowing users to focus mainly on solving problems.
  • Interpreted Language: Python code is executed line-by-line by an interpreter, which makes development faster.
  • Object-Oriented and Functional: Python supports both object-oriented and functional programming paradigms.

Advantages:

  • Readable and Simple Syntax: Python's easy-to-read syntax promotes faster learning and better collaboration, especially in large projects.
  • Rich Ecosystem: A vast number of libraries and frameworks are available for data science, machine learning, and other fields.
  • Versatility: Python is apt for data science, web development, automation, scripting, and more.

Disadvantages:

  • Slower Execution Speed: Python is an interpreted language used in data science. It is generally slower than compiled languages like C++ or Java, especially in computation-heavy tasks.
  • Memory Consumption: Python tends to use more memory than other languages, which can be problematic when working with large-scale data.
  • Runtime Errors: Due to its dynamic typing, Python can cause errors at runtime that are hard to detect during development.

Also Read: Top 10 Reasons Why Python is So Popular With Developers in 2025

2. SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific programming language used for managing structured data in relational databases. It was developed in the early 1970s by Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce at IBM for the System R project. 

Basic Applications:

  • Data Retrieval: Querying large datasets and extracting specific data points using SELECT statements.
  • Database Management: Creating, updating, and deleting tables and databases with commands like CREATE, ALTER, and DROP.

Unique Features:

  • Declarative LanguageSQL focuses on what to retrieve rather than how to retrieve it. You specify the data you want, and the SQL engine determines the most efficient way to retrieve it.
  • Standardized: SQL has been widely adopted as the standard language for relational database management systems (RDBMS), ensuring compatibility across different database platforms.
  • Easy to Learn: SQL uses a straightforward syntax that is easy to learn and understand, especially for users who are familiar with databases.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Declarative Nature: SQL focuses on describing the result instead of specifying the exact steps to achieve it.
  • Tightly Integrated with Relational Databases: SQL is ideal for working with relational databases.
  • Minimal Syntax: SQL has a simple, intuitive syntax for most operations, which allows for writing queries even without deep programming knowledge.

Advantages:

  • Efficient Data Querying: SQL can retrieve large volumes of data efficiently, even from large and complex databases.
  • Standardized and Well-Established: SQL is universally supported across relational database platforms, ensuring compatibility and portability.
  • Data Integrity and Security: SQL includes built-in features for ensuring data integrity, managing transactions, and controlling access to sensitive information.

Disadvantages:

  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Advanced features (like subqueries, joins, and window functions) can be challenging for beginners to master.
  • Not Ideal for Complex Analytics: SQL is less suitable for complex statistical analysis or machine learning. 

Want to learn more about SQL? Check out free SQL certification courses.

3. R

R is a programming language used in data science and environment specifically designed for statistical computing and data analysis. It is built with the S programming language and was developed in the early 1990s by Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman. R is now widely used for statistical modeling, data visualization, and data manipulation.

Basic Applications:

  • Statistical Analysis: Performing complex statistical operations like hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and time-series analysis.
  • Data Visualization: Creating detailed and customizable plots and charts using libraries like ggplot2 and lattice.
  • Machine Learning: Building predictive models and analyzing data with machine learning libraries.

Unique Features:

  • Designed for Statistics: R is perfect for statistical analysis, modeling, and visualization.
  • Extensive Library Support: R is supported by numerous libraries, making it suitable for applications such as advanced machine learning, bioinformatics, and econometrics.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Functional Programming: R supports functional programming paradigms and helps write codes in a modular and reusable way.
  • Interactive Environment: R's interactive environment makes it suitable for exploratory data analysis, including tasks like entering commands and getting instant feedback. 
  • Rich Visualization Tools: R has some of the best visualization features in the industry.

Advantages:

  • Powerful for Statistical Analysis: R is ideal for data analysis and statistics and is used extensively by statisticians and data scientists for complex analyses.
  • Strong Community and Support: R has a large, active community that regularly contributes new packages, tools, and resources to the language.

Disadvantages:

  • Steeper Learning Curve: R has a challenging learning curve for beginners who need a background in statistics or programming.
  • Memory Management Issues: R is less memory-efficient than some other languages and can struggle with very large datasets.
  • Less Effective for General Programming: It could be better for general-purpose programming.

Also ReadR Tutorial for Beginners: Become an Expert in R Programming

4. VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)

VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is a programming language developed by Microsoft that is used in data science. Its main function is to automate tasks within Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Access, and Word. First introduced in the early 1990s to expand the functionality of Office applications, it allowed users to write custom code and automate repetitive tasks. 

VBA is now used extensively in business environments to streamline processes, generate reports, and manipulate data within Office programs, particularly Excel.

Basic Applications:

  • Data Cleaning: Automating repetitive data cleaning tasks such as removing duplicates, handling missing values, and applying transformations.
  • Report Generation: Automating the creation of customized reports and dashboards in Excel or Access.
  • Data Processing: Writing macros to process large datasets, perform aggregations, or manipulate data within spreadsheets.

Unique Features:

  • Tightly Integrated with Microsoft Office: VBA is designed to work specifically within the Microsoft Office suite and automate tasks in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access.
  • Macro Recording: Users can easily record their actions in Excel and generate VBA code automatically.
  • Custom Functions: VBA allows users to create custom functions that work across Excel workbooks and simplify complex calculations.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Simple Syntax: As a programming language used in data science, VBA’s straightforward syntax makes it easy for beginners to learn.
  • Built-in IDE: VBA comes with an integrated development environment (IDE) within Excel, making it easy to write, test, and debug code directly within the application.
  • Debugging Tools: The VBA IDE includes debugging tools such as breakpoints and step-through execution, which help users identify and fix issues in their code.

Advantages:

  • Easy to Learn for Excel Users: If you're already familiar with Excel, VBA is relatively easy to pick up.
  • Automation of Repetitive Tasks: VBA allows users to automate repetitive tasks in Excel, saving time and reducing human error in data analysis and reporting.
  • Widely Used in Business Environments: Many businesses use VBA to handle repetitive processes and automate reporting, making it a valuable tool for business analysts and data scientists.

Disadvantages:

  • Limited Scalability: VBA is not suitable for large-scale data analysis or complex machine-learning tasks.
  • Platform Dependent: VBA works primarily within the Microsoft Office ecosystem.
  • Not Suitable for Complex Algorithms: VBA lacks the capabilities of more sophisticated programming languages.
  • Performance Limitations: VBA can struggle with performance when working with large datasets.

5. Julia

Julia is a high-level programming language used in data science. It is specifically designed for technical computing, data analysis, and numerical analysis. Julia offers an advantage over other data science programming languages in terms of speed and flexibility, making it ideal for scientific computing, machine learning, and large-scale data analysis.

Basic Applications:

  • Numerical Analysis: Julia excels in numerical computing tasks like linear algebra, differential equations, and optimization.
  • Machine Learning: Julia provides tools for building machine learning models, from simple regressions to deep learning, through libraries like Flux. jl and MLJ.jl.
  • Big Data Processing: Julia efficiently handles large datasets, making it a good choice for big data analytics and high-performance computing tasks.

Unique Features:

  • Speed: Julia is ideal for high-performance numerical computing. Its just-in-time (JIT) compiler generates machine code for optimal execution.
  • Dynamic Typing: Julia is dynamically typed, making it easier to write flexible code without worrying about strict data types.
  • Multiple Dispatch: Julia uses multiple dispatches, and this ensures more readable, maintainable, and flexible code.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Easy to write and understand: Despite being a high-performance language, Julia is relatively easy to write and understand.
  • Designed for Data Science: Julia can address the needs of data scientists and researchers with built-in features for numerical analysis and machine learning.
  • Growing Community: The Julia community is growing rapidly as developers regularly create new packages and tools to meet the needs of researchers and data scientists.

Advantages:

  • High Performance: Julia's performance is comparable to low-level data science programming languages like C, making it ideal for computationally expensive tasks.
  • Easy to Learn: Julia has a user-friendly syntax, making it easy to learn.
  • Extensive Libraries: Julia's extensive libraries and packages make it perfect for scientific computing, machine learning, and data analysis.
  • Parallel Computing: Julia's offers native support for parallel and distributed computing.

Disadvantages:

  • Relatively New: Julia is still a relatively new language, which means that some areas of its ecosystem are still maturing.
  • Limited Libraries for Certain Tasks: While Julia excels in numerical and scientific computing, its libraries for web development or GUI design still need improvement.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Beginners: Although Julia's syntax is user-friendly, it still has a steep learning curve for beginners.

6. JavaScript

JavaScript is a widely used programming language, especially in web development. Created by Brendan Eich in 1995, it is now an essential component of web technologies alongside HTML and CSS. In data science, JavaScript helps create interactive visualizations and build data-driven web applications. 

Basic Applications:

  • Data Visualization: JavaScript excels in creating interactive and dynamic visualizations using libraries like D3.js and Plotly.js.
  • Real-Time Data Processing: JavaScript and Node.js are used to handle real-time data streams.
  • Building Web-Based Dashboards: JavaScript is used to build dashboards that can display real-time analytics.

Unique Features: 

  • Asynchronous Programming: JavaScript's asynchronous nature (with promises and async/await) makes it ideal for handling data from multiple sources.
  • Event-Driven: JavaScript is built around an event-driven architecture, which allows for responsive, user-interactive applications. This helps with data visualization and exploration.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: JavaScript can run on virtually any device, from desktop computers to mobile phones and servers.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Interpreted Language: JavaScript is interpreted at runtime, which allows for faster prototyping and testing without compilation.
  • Functional and Object-Oriented: JavaScript supports both functional and object-oriented programming paradigms.
  • Client-Side Execution: JavaScript runs in the browser (client-side), which makes it ideal for building interactive web-based applications without a server-side round trip.

Advantages:

  • Interactive Data Visualizations: JavaScript is a powerful language used in data science to create interactive and visually engaging data visualizations that can run directly in the browser.
  • Real-Time Analytics: JavaScript is great for building real-time analytics applications where data is constantly updated, such as in dashboards or IoT systems.
  • Cross-Platform: JavaScript can run on almost any platform, from web browsers to mobile devices, which makes it ideal for building cross-platform data science applications.

Disadvantages:

  • Not Ideal for Complex Data Processing: JavaScript is not designed to handle large-scale, computationally heavy tasks, such as deep learning model training.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Concepts: Advanced JavaScript features, such as asynchronous programming and closures, may have a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Less Popular in Data Science: While JavaScript is widely used in web development, it is less commonly used in traditional data science tasks.

Master JavaScript with upGrad’s expert-led courses. Start learning today and unlock your web development potential!

 

7. Java

Java, a high-level, object-oriented programming language, is known for its portability, performance, and scalability. It was created by James Gosling and Mike Sheridan at Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle) in 1995. 

Java is especially effective for building enterprise-level data science applications, big data processing, and data engineering tasks.

Basic Applications:

  • Big Data Processing: Java is often used with frameworks like Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark to process and analyze massive datasets.
  • Machine Learning: Java offers machine learning libraries like Deeplearning4j, Weka, and MOA, making it suitable for building machine learning models.
  • Data Engineering: Java is used to create robust data pipelines that handle and process large volumes of data efficiently.

Unique Features:

  • Platform Independence: Java programs are platform-independent, meaning they can run on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
  • Multithreading: Java's built-in support for multithreading enables efficient handling of concurrent tasks.
  • Memory Management: Java's automatic memory management through garbage collection helps to improve performance.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Object-Oriented: Java follows the object-oriented paradigm, which promotes code reusability and modular design.
  • Compiled and Interpreted: Java code is compiled into bytecode, which is then interpreted by the JVM, providing both performance and portability.
  • Statically Typed: Java requires explicit declaration of variable types, which can lead to fewer runtime errors and better optimization during compilation.

Advantages:

  • Performance: Java offers high performance through its Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler and the optimization capabilities of the JVM, making it suitable for large-scale data processing tasks.
  • Cross-Platform: Java codes and applications are portable across different operating systems and environments.
  • Multithreading: Java's native support for multithreading allows executing multiple tasks simultaneously, which is helpful in big data analysis.

Disadvantages:

  • Verbosity: Java is known for its verbosity. Its syntax can be more complex and lengthy than that of other languages, making it less ideal for quick data analysis tasks.
  • Not Ideal for Statistical Analysis: Java lacks the vast statistical libraries needed for pure data analysis.
  • Slower Development Speed: Java's rigid structure and verbose syntax can slow down the development process.

Also Read: Library Management System Project Java: Design, Features, and Code

8. Scala

Scala is a general-purpose programming language used in data science with high-level features that combine functional and object-oriented programming features. It was created by Martin Odersky and released in 2003. With its concise syntax and powerful features, Scala is ideal for big data processing and distributed computing.

Basic Applications:

  • Big Data Processing: Scala is often used with Apache Spark for big data processing tasks.
  • Machine Learning: Libraries like Spark MLlib and Breeze provide machine learning and statistical computation capabilities.
  • Data Analysis: Scala helps in data wrangling, analysis, and manipulation.

Unique Features:

  • Functional and Object-Oriented: Scala supports both functional and object-oriented programming.
  • Concise Syntax: Scala's syntax is more concise than Java's, allowing developers to write more expressive and readable code.
  • Interoperability with Java: Scala runs on the JVM, meaning it can easily integrate with Java libraries, frameworks, and tools.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Static Typing: Scala uses static typing, which helps catch errors during compile-time.
  • Runs on JVM: Scala runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which provides high performance.
  • Immutability by Default: Scala favors immutability, which enhances the safety and scalability of code, particularly for big data tasks.

Advantages:

  • Concise and Expressive: Scala's concise syntax and powerful features like pattern matching and higher-order functions make it an expressive language for data science tasks.
  • Interoperability with Java: Scala is fully compatible with Java, which allows data scientists to leverage existing Java libraries and frameworks while writing Scala code.
  • Optimized for Big Data: Scala is ideal for big data applications, making it suitable for large-scale distributed data processing.

Disadvantages:

  • Steep Learning Curve: Scala's rich feature set and combination of functional and object-oriented programming can be difficult for beginners.
  • Compilation Speed: Scala can have slower compilation times than other languages like Java.
  • Smaller Ecosystem: It has a smaller ecosystem compared to some other popular languages.  

Also Read: Scala vs Java: Difference Between Scala & Java.

9. SAS

SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is a software suite developed by the SAS Institute. It is widely used for data management, advanced analytics, and predictive analytics. Originally developed in the 1970s by James Goodnight and colleagues, SAS is now used for data processing, reporting, and business intelligence. 

Basic Applications:

  • Data Manipulation: SAS provides tools for cleaning, transforming, and manipulating large datasets efficiently.
  • Statistical Analysis: SAS is known for its robust statistical analysis capabilities, including regression, ANOVA, time-series analysis, and survival analysis.
  • Predictive Modeling: SAS supports a wide variety of predictive analytics techniques, including linear and logistic regression, decision trees, and neural networks.

Unique Features:

  • Extensive Statistical Libraries: SAS has a vast library of built-in statistical functions and procedures that simplify complex analyses such as regression, cluster analysis, and multivariate analysis.
  • Advanced Analytics: SAS has advanced analytics such as time-series forecasting, survival analysis, and optimization algorithms.
  • Data Integration: SAS allows integration with a wide range of data sources, including databases, spreadsheets, and big data platforms like Hadoop.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Strong Data Management Capabilities: SAS can handle large and complex datasets.
  • Easy-to-Use Interface: SAS offers a very easy-to-use and customizable interface.
  • Versatility in Analytical Methods: SAS is versatile enough to handle a wide variety of analytical tasks.
  • Strong Reporting and Visualization Tools: SAS includes built-in tools for reporting and creating visualizations.

Advantages:

  • Comprehensive and Powerful Toolset: SAS provides a complete suite of statistical and analytical tools for data science tasks like predictive modeling, statistical analysis, and reporting.
  • Scalability: SAS can handle large datasets, making it ideal for enterprise-level applications with substantial data volumes.
  • Consistency and Reliability: SAS is a long-standing software program known for its stability, consistency, and extensive user base in the data science community.

Disadvantages:

  • Cost: SAS is a proprietary tool, and its price can be prohibitive for smaller organizations or individuals. 
  • Limited Visualization Tools: SAS visualization tools are not as advanced or as user-friendly as those found in other languages.
  • Slow Adoption of New Trends: SAS is sometimes slower than open-source data science programming languages to adopt new trends in data science, such as deep learning and machine learning techniques..

10. MATLAB

MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory) is a high-level data science programming language created by Cleve Moler in the late 1970s. It is primarily used for numerical computing, data analysis, and visualization. MATLAB is now extensively used for advanced data analysis, machine learning, signal processing, and control systems.

Basic Applications:

  • Data Analysis: MATLAB provides efficient tools for data manipulation and exploratory analysis.
  • Machine Learning: MATLAB supports machine learning algorithms such as decision trees, support vector machines (SVMs), and deep learning models.
  • Data Visualization: MATLAB is renowned for its ability to generate high-quality plots, charts, and 3D visualizations that help interpret data.

Unique Features:

  • Matrix-Based Computation: MATLAB was designed around matrix operations, making it capable of handling multidimensional arrays and matrices.
  • Built-In Functions for Math and Data Analysis: MATLAB has built-in functions for mathematical modeling, data analysis, and algorithm development.
  • Interactive Environment: MATLAB's interactive environment allows users to write, test, and debug code quickly.

Essential Characteristics:

  • High-Level Language: MATLAB is a high-level language used in data science to write codes with close to human-readable syntax.
  • Numerical Precision: MATLAB supports high numerical precision, making it ideal for tasks requiring high accuracy in scientific computing and simulations.
  • Custom Functions and Algorithms: Users can easily create custom functions and algorithms in MATLAB.

Advantages:

  • High-Quality Data Visualization: MATLAB's ability to create complex plots, charts, and graphs, along with its extensive customization options, makes it an excellent choice for data visualization.
  • Toolboxes for Specialized Applications: MATLAB offers a wide range of specialized toolboxes, making it well-suited for applications in signal processing, control systems, and machine learning.
  • Rapid Prototyping: MATLAB's interactive environment allows for quick testing and iterations.

Disadvantages:

  • Cost: MATLAB requires a commercial license, which can be expensive.
  • Not Open Source: MATLAB is not open source, which limits flexibility and access to third-party libraries or extensions.
  • Memory Management: MATLAB can be memory-intensive when dealing with large datasets.

Also Read: 15 Best MATLAB Project Ideas & Topics For Beginners [2024]

11. C/C++

C and C++ are closely related data science programming languages often used in software development and data science. Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs created C in the early 1970s as a system programming language for operating systems. Bjarne Stroustrup developed C++ in the 1980s.

C and C++ help build high-performance algorithms, data processing systems, and software that require fast execution times.

Basic Applications:

  • Algorithm Optimization: C and C++ are often used to implement performance-critical algorithms.
  • Data Processing: These data science programming languages are ideal for building systems that process large volumes of data.
  • Machine Learning Libraries: Many popular machine learning libraries have their core implementations written in C or C++ to ensure efficient execution.

Unique Features:

  • Low-Level Memory Access: C and C++ allow for manual memory management, giving programmers full control over memory allocation and deallocation.
  • Performance: C and C++ are among the fastest programming languages, making them ideal for tasks requiring high computational power and real-time processing.
  • Portability: C and C++ are highly portable, and codes written in these languages can run on almost any platform.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Procedural and Object-Oriented Programming: C is a procedural programming language, while C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented paradigms.
  • Static Typing: C and C++ are statically typed data science programming languages, meaning variable types must be defined before use. 
  • Compiled Languages: C and C++ are compiled languages, meaning that the source code is translated into machine code by a compiler, which results in faster execution speeds compared to interpreted languages.

Advantages:

  • Speed: C and C++ are among the fastest data science programming languages, making them ideal for applications requiring quick execution and real-time data processing.
  • Memory Management: With manual memory management, users can fine-tune memory usage for optimal performance in data-intensive applications.
  • C and C++ are widely used in systems programming and the development of systems and hardware-related software. Thus, they are essential for certain data science tasks that require direct hardware interaction or real-time processing.

Disadvantages:

  • Complex Syntax: The syntax of C and C++ can be more challenging for beginners to learn.
  • Manual Memory Management: Manual memory management can lead to memory leaks and segmentation faults if not handled carefully.
  • Limited Support for Data Visualization: C and C++ are not suitable for data visualization.

12. Swift

Swift is a high-performance programming language developed by Apple in 2014. Originally designed for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and TVOS app development, It is now gaining popularity in data science. 

Swift offers intuitive syntax, speed, and safety, making it ideal for building scalable and efficient data science solutions. It is also perfect for projects requiring machine learning, data visualization, and integration with Apple's ecosystem.

Basic Applications:

  • Machine Learning: Swift finds application in machine learning workflows, especially with Apple's CoreML framework.
  • Data Analysis: With libraries like Swift for TensorFlow, Swift helps to analyze and manipulate data.
  • Data Visualization: Users can combine Swift with libraries like SwiftPlot for data visualization.

Unique Features:

  • Performance: Swift is a compiled language that offers execution speeds close to C/C++ while being easier to use and more modern in design.
  • Type Safety: Swift enforces strict type safety, catching bugs at compile time to ensure fewer errors and safer code.
  • Modern Syntax: Swift's syntax is clean, expressive, and beginner-friendly, making it easier to write and read compared to older languages like C++.

Essential Characteristics:

  • Object-Oriented and Functional: Swift supports both object-oriented and functional programming paradigms, allowing more flexible code creation.
  • Open Source: Swift is open-source, meaning that developers can contribute to its development and use it in a wide variety of applications, both in and outside of Apple's ecosystem.
  • Apple Integration: Swift's integration with Apple's suite of tools, including CoreML, ARKit, and CloudKit, makes it particularly useful for building data science-driven mobile applications.

Advantages:

  • Fast Execution: As a compiled language, Swift runs very efficiently, making it ideal for data science tasks like machine learning and real-time data processing.
  • Safety and Stability: Swift's focus on safety helps developers write more reliable and bug-free code.
  • Integration with Machine Learning: Swift's integration with CoreML and other machine learning libraries makes it a powerful tool for building data science applications on Apple devices.

Disadvantages:

  • New to Data Science: Swift is limited in terms of its ecosystem of libraries and frameworks.
  • Apple-Centric: Swift is most useful within the Apple ecosystem, meaning its use is limited if you are not developing for other platforms.

Now that you have developed a better understanding of the various data science programming languages, enroll with a course at upGrad to take your career to the next level.

upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you –

 

How Can upGrad Help You Master Any Language Used In Data Science?

Data science programming languages are fundamental to data science as they provide the tools necessary for processing, analyzing, and interpreting complex data. From data processing to building machine learning models, programming languages offer the necessary frameworks to work with large volumes of data in a secure and scalable environment. 

Signing up for a data science course with upGrad is the best way to ensure a rewarding career in this field. Here are some of the courses offered by upGrad you can start with.  

Wondering which data science course programming language course is right for you? upGrad offers free career counseling sessions that can help you find a course that is just right for your future career goals.

Develop top data science skills to analyze complex data, make data-driven decisions, and unlock exciting career opportunities in the tech industry.

Dive into our popular Data Science articles to explore key trends, techniques, and insights that can elevate your expertise in the field!

Reference Link:

https://businessleadersreview.com/global-data-analytics-market-expected-to-reach-132-9-billion-by-2026/
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is Python popular in data science?

Python is popular for its simplicity, readability, and a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that facilitate data analysis, machine learning, and visualization.

2. Do I need to know SQL to be a data scientist?

Yes, knowing SQL is essential for data scientists because it allows them to query and manipulate large datasets stored in relational databases efficiently.

3. What are the key libraries in R for data science?

Key libraries in R include ggplot2 for visualization, dplyr for data manipulation, caret for machine learning, and tidyr for data tidying.
 

4. How does VBA compare to Python for data science?

VBA is more focused on automating tasks within the Microsoft ecosystem (especially Excel), while Python is more powerful for statistical analysis, machine learning, and large-scale data processing.

5. Which data science functions Julia is most suited for?

Julia is suited for numerical analysis, machine learning, statistical modeling, data visualization, optimization problems, and simulation tasks, particularly in fields requiring high computational performance.

6. Do I need to know JavaScript for data science?

JavaScript is highly valuable for data scientists working on web applications, data visualization, or interactive dashboards. It is especially important for full-stack data science projects.

7. What are the unique features of Java for data science?

Java offers high performance and scalability for handling large datasets. It also provides strong support for multithreading, making it suitable for parallel computing.

8. Can Scala be used for machine learning?

Yes, Scala can be used for machine learning, especially when working with large datasets.

9. Does SAS provide advanced data management and cleaning capabilities?

Yes. SAS offers advanced data management and cleaning capabilities.

10. How can I use MATLAB for my projects?

MATLAB is perfect for data science tasks involving matrix operations, statistical analysis, and algorithm development.

11. Can Swift be used for machine learning?

Yes, Swift can be used for machine learning through Apple's Core ML framework.