So, you’re wondering if programming languages should be capitalized? Well, that question isn’t quite as simple as giving a yes or no answer. In this article, we are going to break down how programming languages should be spelled, why you do not always capitalize programming names, and why it is important. So without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Do You Capitalize Programming Languages?
The general rule of thumb is that there is no rule of thumb! Sometimes you capitalize a programming language name and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes the language is in all caps, sometimes only specific letters are capitalized. For example, Lua is capitalized while rc isn’t. Languages like JavaScript have multiple letters capitalized and languages like COBOL are all capitalized.
Why Are Programming Language Names Capitalized Inconsistently?
So why not have a standardized way of capitalizing each programming language? Well, simply because every programming language is written by someone or some company and they decide how that name will be written. If they want to make the language name capitalized with every other letter or in random order, that is their decision. Miscapitalizing a name is not such a big deal that we need to standardize it as we do with HTTP. However, it can be a big deal for you.
Why You Should Spell Programming Names Correctly
Although it’s not that big of a deal to misspell a programming language, it is a big deal on your resume. If you want to get hired as a web developer, it is really important you name the languages you know right. That means using proper capitalization!
Imagine you send your resume to an employer stating that you know JavaScript. However, throughout your resume, you call it “Javascript”. How is that going to look? You could be the best JavaScript developer in the world, but if you don’t know how to spell the name correctly, the employer likely won’t give you a call. So make sure you spell the languages you know correctly!
How Do You Know How To Capitalize A Language?
Honestly, the easiest way to know how to capitalize a programming language is to type the name into google and see what comes up. If the name looks consistent on the first few results, you can probably trust that is how it’s spelled. Try to find the official website or websites that are trustworthy like Mozilla to be even safer.
Summary
So, should programming languages be capitalized? Well, that depends entirely on the programming language at hand. While some languages simply capitalize the first letter, others have strange capitalization rules. The best way to know how to capitalize specific programming languages is to simply look it up on google.
So that’s about it! If you are a new developer and want some free resources to help you learn, check out this guide. If you want to check out these other courses, you can find them here.
Happy coding!
