Computers come to us ready to use. We just need to click on a few buttons to load the programs and websites we’re looking for. Most of the hard work is already done for us by tech professionals who have taken programming courses, making our lives much easier.
Naturally, there are a lot of components that make our computers functional. As much as all of the physical parts are important, so are the programming languages that make up the software and apps that so greatly benefit us in our daily lives.
So, what is programming and how can you learn to code? Read on to learn more about the best online computer coding courses.
What Is Programming?
Computer programming is an essential part of computers. It is what programmers use to give commands to the computer so that it completes the desired function. Programming is the backbone of everything in computer science, from web design to game development.
Programming is what a computer is built on. As such, programming concepts and courses are in high demand as tech enthusiasts strive to learn more about how to build programs that they see a need for.
What Are Programming Languages?
Through programming languages, computers receive instructions that they can use as commands.
There are two levels of programming languages. Binary code that uses only 1s and 0s is low-level programming. High-level programming languages are more useful today, like Python, Java, C, and Ruby on Rails.
Is Programming Different From Coding?
People often use the terms programming and coding interchangeably. One might think that they are the same. While there is nothing wrong with associating the acts of writing code and programming, if you plan on learning one, you should understand the distinction between the two.
Basically, programming deals with the complex task of making a machine understand a language. Whatever a programmer writes to the machine, it must be able to translate it into action. If the language of the code is wrong, then the program won’t work.
Writing code, on the other hand, is the act of translating human language into machine language. It is comparable to translating, except that a coder translates for a computer to understand rather than another human.
Should You Study Programming?
How do you know if programming is right for you? If you are interested in it for practical reasons and understand the work involved, then go for it. A programmer earns an average of $89,190 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you’re a data science student, you need to study programming to succeed in your career. No student has flourished in the field of data science without first getting a firm grasp on programming.
If you have decided that you are interested in programming, there are a lot of online coding courses that you can check out. From coding bootcamps to free online courses, there is a wide array of options at your fingertips.
The Best Online Programming Courses
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, you likely have some more free time to learn programming at home, either as a hobby or to help with your career. Below, we have listed some of the best online programming courses offered by prestigious institutions.
Harvard: CS50’s Web Programming with Python and Javascript
Price: Free (Certificate available for $149)
If you are ready to commit six to nine hours per week to studying programming, then you should consider this program. The difficulty level is intermediate, so you will need to have a background in programming.
This program focuses on Python and Javascript, but briefly delves into HTML and CSS. It promises to help you learn the languages and tools you will need to start designing apps.
edX: Programming Basics
Price: Free (Certificate available for $149)
This beginner course provides an excellent introduction to computer programming. The main goal is to develop a basic understanding so that you can solve programming problems.
Aside from basic programming skills, you will also learn the language C/C++ and its real-world applications. Other topics in the curriculum include algorithms, basic data types, sequential and conditional execution, iterative solutions, and functions. If you study six to eight hours per week, you can finish this course in about nine weeks.
Coursera: Introduction to Computer Programming
Price: 7-day free trial (Certificate available)
This course gives you a strong foundation to write computer programs effectively. The curriculum also covers the basics of editing and running programs, creating 2D graphics using shapes and coordinates, and interactive graphics. Students can test what they have learned by playing a game created especially for this course.
This course relies on JavaScript, one of the most popular coding languages used in web development. It takes about 21 hours to complete. Keep in mind that most Coursera courses have a seven-day free trial after which you will be charged. If you cancel within the free trial time, you will not be billed.
NYU: Basics of Computing and Programming
Price: Free (Certificate available for $200)
This is a self-paced course that serves as an excellent introduction to the Python programming language. Over nine weeks, you will learn binary systems and how to apply variables to web development. Lessons include positional number systems, “Hello World”, numerical data types and arithmetic expressions, and branching statements.
This is a good companion course if you are learning data science or software engineering. Offered by one of the top universities in the US, it is part of the MicroBachelors Program in Computer Science Fundamentals.
Udemy: Computer Programming for Beginners
Price: $24.99 (Certificate available)
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Offered by Udemy, this course is composed of video tutorials and other resources available for download. This class is ideal for learning the principles of programming. It will help you develop your logical thinking as you learn how to design algorithms.
Lessons include numerical systems, computer data, saving and manipulating data, algorithms, and flowcharts. It is worth noting that the curriculum does not focus on any programming language in particular. This course is meant to be taken before learning a specific language.
Coursera: Introduction to Programming with Python and Java Specialization
Price: 7-day free trial (Certificate available)
This program, created by the University of Pennsylvania, is composed of four courses in which you will study the basics of Python, object-oriented programming, and data structures in Java. By the end, students will be adept at writing programs in Python and Java.
This course has a comprehensive curriculum, including lessons on lists, loops, functions, strings, and tuples. There are also lessons on loading, querying, and filtering data using the csv module and summarizing and visualizing data. All in all, there is a great course to boost your coding skills.
Pluralsight: What Is Programming?
Price: 10-day free trial
This course will teach you how to think like software engineers. Most of the classes in this list are language-specific courses, but not this one. You’ll start with the fundamentals and essential ideals that undergird coding without focusing on any one language in particular. By the end of the class, you’ll have a solid foundation upon which to built a career as a programmer.
Some of the lessons include How to Think About an Infinite Machine, Source Code, Why Code Looks Like Code, and Getting the Computer to Understand You.
Udemy: Computer Science 101 Master the Theory Behind Programming
Price: $12.99 (Certificate available)
In a series of engaging lessons, this Udemy course seeks to teach the student the fundamentals of computer science and algorithm analysis. You can join this course as a complete beginner and get started on your way to becoming a programmer or software engineer.
The syllabus covers algorithm analysis, arrays, linked lists, trees, heaps, and graphs. Moreover, the course has 10-hours of on-demand video.
Coursera: Python for Everybody Specialization
Price: 7-day free trial (Certificate available)
Created by professors at the University of Michigan, this series of courses will teach you to program and analyze data with Python. By the end of this program, the student will be confidently using functions and loops. You will also gain skills in web scraping as well as JSON, XML, and SQL.
The University of Michigan has crafted a balanced and engaging curriculum that will help learners understand the basics of Python and kickstart their programming careers. Studying three hours a week, you will need about eight months to complete this course.
Khan Academy: Intro to JS Drawing & Animation
Price: Free
Finally, we couldn’t conclude our list without mentioning Khan Academy, a non-profit organization that aims to educate younger learners in math, computer science, and economics, among other subjects. Khan Academy has many excellent coding lessons, delivered in the form of short videos.
In Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation, students will learn the basics of programming and how to draw, color, and animate with JavaScript. Variables, strings, functions, if statements, loops, and arrays are also part of the curriculum.
Conclusion: Master Programming With Online Courses
Technology is a huge part of the world we live in today. Using programming to process data, we can make technology a more useful part of our daily lives.
If you have even a mild interest in programming, you should look at one of the many opportunities available for you online for learning the skill. Online coding courses will help you stay relevant within your field, even if you’re not a tech expert. If you are already a student navigating your way through a data science program, then this is another option open to you to enhance your skills, often for free.
Many of the online courses listed in this article are free, and most can be taken on mobile devices, which means you can learn from anywhere. Learning to code has never been easier, so what’s stopping you?
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