TIOBE Index for July 2026: Top 10 Most Popular Programming Languages

Rust has entered the TIOBE Index top 10 for the first time in the programming language’s history. The July 2026 ranking places Rust at No. 10 after climbing from No. 18 a year earlier, marking the headline change in the index’s 25th anniversary edition.

Python remains No. 1 at 18.94%, while C, C++, Java, C#, and JavaScript hold positions two through six. C and C++ swapped the second and third spots year over year, while SQL, R, and Rust posted the largest year-over-year positional gains among this month’s top 10.

Top 10 programming languages in July 2026

According to the TIOBE Programming Community Index, the following are the top 10 programming languages in July 2026.

1. Python: A general-purpose, high-level language used across web development, data science, machine learning, and automation. Python has held the No. 1 position on the TIOBE Index for several consecutive years.

2. C: A foundational procedural language used in operating systems, embedded systems, and systems programming. C moves up one position year over year, from No. 3 to No. 2.

3. C++: An extension of C used in embedded systems, game development, and financial trading software. C++ drops one position year over year, from No. 2 to No. 3.

4. Java: A platform-independent, object-oriented language used for enterprise applications, Android development, and large-scale back-end systems.

5. C#: A Microsoft-developed, object-oriented language used for Windows application development, game development via Unity, and enterprise software on the .NET platform.

6. JavaScript: The primary language of the web, running natively in browsers and, via Node.js, on the server side.

7. Visual Basic: A Microsoft event-driven language for building Windows applications. Visual Basic moves up one position year over year, from No. 8 to No. 7.

8. SQL: Structured Query Language is the standard language for managing and querying relational databases. SQL jumps five positions year over year, from No. 13 to No. 8.

9. R: A language and environment for statistical computing and graphics, used heavily in academia, research, and fields such as epidemiology and biostatistics. R climbs six positions year over year, from No. 15 to No. 9.

10. Rust: A systems programming language focused on memory safety and performance without garbage collection. Rust enters the top 10 for the first time, rising from No. 18 a year earlier.

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Notable movements in the TIOBE Index, July 2026 top 10

July brings Rust into the top 10 for the first time, replacing Delphi/Object Pascal in the final spot. Rust rises from No. 18 in July 2025 to No. 10 in July 2026, giving the language its first appearance in the upper tier of the TIOBE Index.

The top of the list stays mostly familiar. Python remains first with a wide lead, while C moves up to second and C++ drops to third. Java, C#, and JavaScript hold the fourth, fifth, and sixth spots, respectively.

The biggest changes come at the bottom of the top 10. SQL jumps from No. 13 to No. 8, R climbs from No. 15 to No. 9, and Rust moves from No. 18 to No. 10. SQL and R remain close, separated by just 0.02 percentage points in July.

Visual Basic also moves up one spot, from No. 8 to No. 7. Go, which ranked No. 7 in July 2025, falls out of the top 10 to No. 13 in July 2026.

Top 10 programming languages in June 2026

1. Python
2. C
3. C++
4. Java
5. C#
6. JavaScript
7. Visual Basic
8. SQL
9. R
10. Delphi/Object Pascal

Top 10 programming languages in May 2026

1. Python
2. C
3. Java
4. C++
5. C#
6. JavaScript
7. Visual Basic
8. R
9. SQL
10. Delphi/Object Pascal

Top 10 programming languages in April 2026

1. Python
2. C
3. C++
4. Java
5. C#
6. JavaScript
7. Visual Basic
8. SQL
9. R
10. Delphi/Object Pascal

Top 10 programming languages in March 2026

1. Python
2. C
3. C++
4. Java
5. C#
6. JavaScript
7. Visual Basic
8. SQL
9. R
10. Delphi/Object Pascal

Top 10 programming languages in February 2026

1. Python
2. C
3. Java
4. C++
5. C#
6. JavaScript
7. Visual Basic
8. R
9. SQL
10. Delphi/Object Pascal

What is the TIOBE Index?

The TIOBE Index’s proprietor, TIOBE Software CEO Paul Jansen, notes the index is not a prize for the “best” language or a list of programming languages with the most code written. Instead, he uses popular search engines to determine which languages are most used among professional programmers, programming courses, and third-party vendors.

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