This shift in rankings is attributed to the rise of Python, which saw a significant increase in popularity. Python’s popularity is fueled by its versatility, ease of use, and extensive libraries. The TIOBE index is a widely recognized and respected indicator of programming language popularity. It is based on a weighted average of the number of search engine results for each language.

The U.S. government identified C as a memory-unsafe language. Companies may choose Rust over C in order to fit with memory-safe standards. This has become a significant development in the systems programming space, contributing to a shift in industry practices towards safer, more reliable software.