Coding for Beginners

If you pay attention to anything tech-related, you’ve undoubtedly run into the terms ‘coding’ and ‘programming’ many times. But what do these words actually mean, and what does it look like? Coding and programming are usually interchangeable terms, and they are skills required by many jobs in the tech industry. With coding skills, you can design apps, build websites, create video games, and do many other useful things. Coding today is just about as useful as any other skill, and it opens the door to many lucrative career paths. If you’re interested in coding, read on—we’ll go over what coding is, what it does, and where to find out more about it. Here’s a basic rundown of coding for beginners. 

What is Coding?

In a nutshell, coding is the process of writing instructions for computers. Basically, without detailed instructions, computers would be practically useless. Without input, there is no output—and coding is the process of generating that input. There are tons of coding languages which all perform specific tasks. Web development, for example, starts with primary coding languages like HTML and JavaScript, which we’ll cover in more detail later. 

Other coding languages, such as Python, are more robust and can be used for a variety of tasks. Coders use complex coding languages to build software programs, apps, games, and other advanced programs. Coding is not necessarily complicated, but there are aspects of it that can be tedious and challenging. Virtually anyone can learn to code, it just takes patience and willingness to learn, just like learning a foreign language. 

Basic Coding Languages

Now that you’ve made it through what is (probably) the most basic definition of coding on the internet, it’s time to decide what coding languages to learn first. We’ve written a more in-depth article on this topic, so check it out later if you’re interested. Most people agree that HTML and JavaScript are the easiest languages to start with, and there are numerous online resources available covering coding for beginners. 

• HTML

HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the most basic coding language in widespread use today. It’s primarily designed to help people format documents online, with basic features including bold and italic text. Without HTML, it would be challenging to read online documents, as they’d all just be blocks of text. HTML is what’s known as a ‘static’ coding language, which makes it relatively easy to work with. However, HTML alone isn’t sufficient for modern website building, which brings us to JavaScript.

• JavaScript

HTML and JavaScript go hand-in-hand, and together make up some of the most common web development coding languages around. JavaScript allows developers to build interactive features into a website. These features include buttons, slideshows, drop-down menus, and other moving attributes. JavaScript, like HTML, is a relatively simple coding language with numerous online tools to help you learn.

How to Learn to Code

There are many ways to learn to code, both online and in-person. With simple coding languages, most people can begin the learning process using YouTube videos, apps, and online tools. More complex coding tasks often require extended learning hours or a short stay at a coding bootcamp. Coding bootcamps are short-term education programs designed specifically to teach coding for beginners. Many of these programs help lead people directly into jobs in the tech industry, while others are designed just to help people learn specific types of coding. Coding bootcamps range in price, length, and location, and some programs are free online. However you choose to learn to code, just remember that it’s not as difficult as it seems once you get the hang of it.