You might be forgiven for assuming that the question, “What is the fastest programming language?” has a simple, one-word solution. In reality, however, a great deal of technical intricacy is involved in matters of velocity and code. To begin, speed is only sometimes preferable depending on the context. (However, that’s not the case.)

What makes a programming language fast, why that matters, and how to get started with some of the fastest languages available are all discussed in detail here.

How can you define the speed of a language?

The ability to compile code or use an interpreter is the defining characteristic of a fast programming language. To communicate with the hardware, compiled languages like Lisp, C++, Go, Rust, and Swift must be translated into machine code. The source code for interpreted languages like Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and PHP is translated into machine code during runtime. Compared to compiled languages, interpreted ones lag due to the extra time and effort required for the code to undergo this conversion while it is being executed.

The rate at which a language develops depends on several other variables. Languages like Java and C# combine the benefits of both the compiled and interpreted worlds. However, they are not compiled to Assembly but rather to bytecode. When executed, the produced bytecode runs in a virtual machine designed to communicate efficiently with the hardware. A good analogy is a bytecode as the VM’s version of Assembly. These languages are quicker than others, such as JavaScript, since they don’t have to translate their textual source code into machine code.

There’s also the question of whether or not it’s a statically typed language, as opposed to a dynamically typed one. Statically typed languages set the types of all variables at build time, whereas dynamically typed languages do this check at runtime. Because of the extra time required for real-time type checking, dynamically typed languages are slower than statically typed ones.

Which programming languages are the fastest?

The fastest languages are those that communicate directly with the hardware. We’ll examine some of the quickest languages you could come across and the purposes they serve.

Assembly

There is more than one assembly language. Any language that interacts directly with the hardware of a computer is sometimes referred to as “low-level.” Since mobile phone and laptop CPUs are fundamentally different, the corresponding Assembly languages will be distinct. Developers who deal with hardware or who invent computer languages are the only ones who often utilize Assembly.

Lisp

After more than 60 years in existence, Lisp is one of the oldest programming languages. There are several implementations of Lisp, and many other programming languages make use of its underlying concepts. Modern Lisp variants like Clojure, which runs on the Java Virtual Machine, are one reason the language is included on this list, but that’s not why Lisp is included per se. Since Common Lisp compiles straight to Assembly, any executable code written in Lisp will be in Assembly. While Common Lisp is still in use, Clojure has become the language of choice.

C/C++

Compiled languages also include C and C++. C is a tiny, fast, and simple procedural programming language that has been used extensively since its inception in the early 1970s, especially for embedded applications. C++ is an enhanced version of C with support for objects. This has led to its widespread replacement of C in several domains. We use C++ when speed is crucial, such as when making a 3D video game or an operating system.

Go

Google’s programming language Go Go is also known as Golang. It is similar to the other languages in that it compiles to Assembly, but it has more up-to-date features, a more straightforward syntax, and is easier to write than C/C++, the long-time leader among fast programming languages. Golang’s speed may improve the performance of network servers and distributed systems. Therefore these applications often employ it.

Rust

Rust is a safer alternative to C/C++ and another compiled programming language. As a result of its emphasis on speed, memory safety, and parallel processing, it finds widespread use in gaming engines, browser add-ons, and virtual reality (VR) simulation engines.

C#

C# C#, like Java, is a language that compiles to a virtual language before being interpreted by a virtual machine. This makes it faster and gives it the characteristics of an interpreted language. Microsoft’s C# is a popular programming language due to its accessibility and the abundance of helpful third-party libraries. In the same way, C++ can be used to make desktop apps and games, C# can be used to make desktop apps and web services.

Java

Java compiles to bytecode, which the Java Virtual Machine interprets. The fact that it was one of the first languages to provide this feature contributed to its rapid (and ongoing) rise to prominence among developers. A  Java program may be deployed on different operating systems without requiring any modifications to the source code. Java’s speed and portability make it a go-to for various uses, from web and desktop to game and mobile app creation.

Swift

Swift, created by Apple, is a cutting-edge programming language that generates Assembly code upon compilation. Intent on supplanting Objective-C, it was developed as such. It’s what’s used to make the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and even the Apple Watch. Since it is cross-platform and increasingly used in other apps, Swift has quickly become the preferred language for developing Mac OS X and iOS.

It does not always need to be fast.

Although speed is one factor to consider when deciding which programming language to employ, many others are just as significant. There will be instances when other aspects of a programming language outweigh speed while you’re producing code. Ultimately, if speed were the most important factor in every project, we’d be writing Assembly code, and none of the languages that are not on the above list would be useful. Of course, the reality is that many of today’s most-used programming languages still need to be included.

In many cases, a C++ program will be ten times quicker than a Python program, but this difference may be irrelevant in the current task context. When it comes down to it, does it matter whether a process takes .001 seconds to complete rather than.01? The distinction becomes significant, though, if you need to repeat that action thousands of times in a while loop.

The rate of innovation is sometimes more important than the rate of implementation. If a program runs slowly, additional resources may be allocated to it to speed it up. This is because computer resources are inexpensive compared to hiring developers to create code in a low-level language, which is more difficult to write. Languages that take longer to execute are more widely used because they are simpler to create, come with multiple third-party libraries, and can be deployed more quickly. In short, this reduces the amount of time needed for development.