11 Best Programming Languages for Hacking in 2025

As data breaches spiked in 2023, the year 2024 demands more cyber security aspirants to join the team. This is where the significance of learning key programming languages for hacking comes into play!

Understanding and mastering ethical hacking is a non-negotiable requirement today, for those seeking to contribute effectively to the field of cybersecurity, worldwide. Moreover, honing the skills in programming languages for hacking is an integral part of this educational journey, one that cannot be overlooked or undervalued in any capacity.

But why is learning a hacking programming language so important for a safe cyber presence?

Let’s explore!

Why Is Learning Programming Languages For Hacking Is Important?

Learning programming languages is one of the fundamental steps that helps you navigate through the process while becoming an ethical hacker. The knowledge of programming languages helps aspiring cybersecurity professionals such as ethical hackers to analyse codes, evaluate scripts and understand the workings of a target system as well as its vulnerabilities. As a result, this helps them create exploits to tackle the vulnerabilities.

Another notable aspect of learning any notable hacker language is to automate complex and tedious tasks that can originally take weeks to complete.

Difference between Black Hat Hacking & Ethical Hacking

Difference between white hat hackers and black hat hackers

A black hat hacker is an entity that unlawfully seeks access to unauthorised systems in order to steal private information, destroy data, plant bugs or corrupt the system/network.

An ethical hacker, also known as a white hat hacker, on the other hand, is an entity that tries to mimic the behaviour of a black hat hacker to understand potential system and network vulnerabilities through authorised access to the target system. This approach enables cyber professionals like ethical hackers to evaluate weak points and create strong systems to evade potential cyber-attacks in the future.

List of Top Programming Languages Hackers Use

In order to emerge as skilled ethical hackers, we recommend you learn the most popular programming languages for hacking. Curious to learn these languages?

Let us help you with a comprehensive list of the best hacking languages you can learn to set yourself on the path that teaches you how to become an ethical hacker.

According to the reports, as of 2022, JavaScript and HTML/CSS were the most popular programming languages among software developers worldwide, with over 63.6 percent using JavaScript and around 53 percent using HTML/CSS. Python, SQL and TypeScript rounded up the top five most popular programming languages in the world.

JavaScript

Listed as one of the top 10 programming languages globally, JavaScript is used predominantly in web development to empower ethical hackers to pinpoint vulnerabilities within web applications. It fosters the ability to execute cross-site scripting attacks and manipulate website elements for testing.

HTML

Web hackers must possess a crucial understanding of HTML. It equips them to scrutinise website structures, pinpoint potential input vulnerabilities and comprehend the interaction between websites and their users.

Python

Leading our hacking language list, Python is widely favoured by hackers for its simplicity and versatility. It’s ideal for scripting automated tasks, developing exploit programs and even creating hacking tools which makes it ideal for ethical hacking using Python. The extensive library support further amplifies its utility, specifically in network scanning, web scraping – indeed, this programming language for ethical hacking is a multifaceted tool indispensable to malware analysis.

SQL

Exploiting database vulnerabilities commonly involves SQL injection attacks, which necessitate an in-depth comprehension of SQL programming language for hacking. For ethical hackers who concentrate on database security, this language is crucial to be incorporated into their skillset.

Bash

With its power to automate tasks on Linux-based systems, such as network monitoring and penetration testing, Bash scripting becomes an essential tool in the ethical hacker’s arsenal.

C++

C++, as an extension of C, facilitates the development of intricate hacking programs. It augments features and performance, a language particularly valuable in system hacking and malware creation. Prominent ethical hacking tutorials often include C++ in their core concepts since this language is so popular among ethical hackers.

C

A foundational understanding of low-level software and operating systems work necessitates proficiency in the C programming language. Expertise in this hacker language empowers developers to create efficient hacking tools and exploit software vulnerabilities with precision.

PHP

PHP, as a server-side scripting language, allows us to understand and exploit vulnerabilities in websites. This ethical hacking language acts as a potential gateway for unauthorised data access or manipulation.

Perl

The text processing capabilities of Perl render it an ideal choice for scriptwriting in network and system administration. This, in turn, contributes to its prevalent use within ethical hacking – particularly for tasks such as log file analysis and system management.

RUBY

The simplicity and productive development approach of Ruby make it a popular choice in the realm of ethical hacking. This programming language serves as a tool for crafting exploits and scrutinising software vulnerabilities.

Assembly

A detailed understanding of the Assembly programming language is important if you desire to establish a career in ethical hacking. This language lets ethical hackers understand and manipulate hardware-level operations, which is essential for crafting exploits that target low-level system vulnerabilities.

The journey to becoming an ethical hacker starts with learning the best programming languages for hacking; however, a map to explore the entire path is also necessary. This is where you can seek help from CEH certification training— a crucial step towards becoming a certified ethical hacker.

In short, those with aspirations of making significant contributions to cybersecurity can rely on these invaluable tools and guidance.

So, exactly which language is best for hacking?

Ultimately, the choice of the most relevant programming language for ethical hacking hinges on the particular tasks assigned. However, a comprehensive understanding of multiple languages yields significant advantages.

Related Post Getting started with exploit development and reverse engineering

Conclusion

Each language – Python for scripting, JavaScript and SQL for uncovering web vulnerabilities, presents distinct advantages in cybersecurity. Therefore, it is necessary for aspiring ethical hackers to focus on mastering various programming languages in order to enhance their understanding of network systems, cybersecurity principles and ethical considerations in hacking.

Fully engage yourself in rigorous practice, foster a firm enthusiasm for continuous learning and keep studying fundamental and advanced ethical hacking concepts. This will help you establish a successful career in cybersecurity.

Edureka aims to simplify your journey in becoming a professional in cybersecurity with its insightful resources and expert-led training programs, helping you claim lucrative industry opportunities!

FAQs

1. Does ethical hacking require you to know coding?

Coding for hacking is indeed an important skill that all aspiring ethical hackers must learn. Some of the popular coding languages include Python, SQL, C and C++. These languages grant access to extensive coding libraries and help understand hacking methods, comprehend software vulnerabilities and automate tasks to strengthen the overall system against cybercrimes and potential vulnerabilities.

2. Which programming language is best for ethical hacking?

Due to its simplicity and extensive security applications, Python frequently receives recommendations among aspiring cybersecurity professionals as one of the best programming languages for ethical hacking.

3. What Major Programming Languages Do Ethical Hackers Use?

Commonly, ethical hackers utilise a range of programming languages – Python, JavaScript, PHP and SQL, and for more complex operations – C and C++. Each language serves distinct purposes in the hacking process.

4. How is Python used for hacking?

Organisations and analysts utilise Python for a multitude of tasks. They develop automated scripts, create exploits and analyse malware, all thanks to its simplicity. Additionally, with powerful libraries at their disposal specifically designed for network and data analysis, Python proves exceptionally versatile in these domains.

5. How C programming is used for hacking?

Due to its close relationship with system hardware and operating systems, C programming serves three essential functions — it creates low-level tools, facilitates an understanding of system internals and enables the exploitation of software application vulnerabilities.