Python and R are two popular programming languages for data science. Python is versatile, with easy-to-read syntax and a vast ecosystem of libraries like NumPy and Pandas for data manipulation and analysis. It's also great for building machine learning models using libraries like TensorFlow and scikit-learn. R, on the other hand, is designed specifically for data analysis and statistics, with built-in features and libraries like dplyr and ggplot2. Choosing between them depends on your specific needs and preferences; Python is more general-purpose, while R excels in statistical analysis and visualization.