What programming language are "apps" written in?

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You know, apps for smartphones. I recently heard a radio ad from one of those low rent "for profit" colleges offering a "course" in JavaScript because according to the ad that's what language apps are written in. I'm familiar with this particular "college", having attended for a computer technician program ages ago, and basically you get a lot of remedial and Microsoft Office classes, one or two classes in your "major" taught by profs who are older than dirt and so is their knowledge, taught on outdated equipment, then the "job placement office" sends you to menial jobs that don't require your very expensive "degree". So, I figured that I would just use Codecademy or a similar site to learn how to program apps. So, what language do I need to know?

It depends on the platform. Java for Android, Objective-C or Swift for iPhone, C++ for BlackBerry 10 (Java for older BlackBerry OSs), etc. You can also make "web" apps with HTML+CSS+JavaScript.

Absolutely correct. I would add that there's a distinction between HTML5 apps (which are written in JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3) and native apps (which are written in different languages for different devices).

An HTML5 app is a shell onto a web browser. The app runs inside the shell. The user doesn't see the webview, only the app inside it. Generally speaking the user doesn't even realise that the app is actually a clever web page. The original Facebook app was an HTML5 app.

The advantage of HTML5 apps over native is that they can easily be ported between devices. Also JavaScript is a lovely little language, and CSS3 is wonderful to work with. The disadvantage is that you get shallower device integration.

If you want to learn to write apps, you could learn Swift for iOS, Java for Android, or JavaScript/HTML5/CSS3 for both, plus the web. They are very different languages with different strengths and cultures. Java is formal, strict and grown up. Swift is brand new and exciting. JavaScript is anarchic and brattish and very cool, and has it's roots in LISP, which is seriously deep.

I would suggest you learn all three.

This reminds me I really should get started in Android Studio 1.0... I've been hesitant to be so very spoiled by a Java IDE...

You can also use C# and Xamarin. That way you can use some of the same code on Windows, iPhone and Android. AFAIK, Xamarin is not free, though

There really isent a perfect answer for this it just comes down to user preference, If you ask a person why you like this program language the best he will tell you that its because Its what I learned first.

Most people stick with the programming language they learned first, and you will have some that have tried out different programming languages If you program in either Java C++ or phython or any other program language there isent much difference, you will only find some differences in the coding layout besides that there pretty much the same. It want be any easier in whatever programming language you first learn.

great answer

If you want to learn to develop simple apps for Android, using the language Python as a stepping stone can be very useful. Python is simple enough for beginners to grasp but still retains ability for complex operations. If you're interested in Android development via Python, there are many Python interpreters available for Android. The language is interpreted which means the code doesn't have to be compiled like Java or C.