8 Free Resources for Learning How to Code

So, you’re a blogger, an entrepreneur or a website owner that would like to learn how to make their web page or blogging platform more user-friendly and attractive to your visitors. Or, perhaps, you’re simply a passionate computer user that has always wanted to take matters into their own hands and change certain application components to fit your preferences. The problem is, you never had a chance to learn how to do all this, but you would love to learn nonetheless.

In the past, coding used to be linked mostly to IT prodigies. Nowadays, however, that’s not the case anymore – especially with the emergence of so many online platforms specifically made for learning how to code. There are many benefits to knowing how to code, and even more so if you lead a business and want to establish or strengthen its online presence.

First and foremost, by learning how to code, you can get more familiarized with some of the technical features required for smoother website development. In turn, you will know how to pinpoint which code-based decisions will benefit your website better, as well as which professionals to hire if you need any additional help.

Second, with at least some basic coding knowledge under your belt and a good IDE software at your fingertips, you might be able to do some work on your own. This means that if you know how you want to change or improve a certain feature or functionality, you can simply do it yourself without having to explain your ideas to others and depend on them to do it in your stead.

Finally, all this can save you time and reduce your expenses.

These are all the reasons why we’ve decided to help you out and compile a list of some of the best online resources that will help you learn how to code – for free.

1. Codecademy

There are more than 25 million people who have used this platform for learning how to code. Thanks to Codecademy, you can learn different programming and website developing skills from the ground up.

This platform has a handy career guide that will help you find exactly what you need for a good head-start. There are career paths such as Code Foundations for those uncertain about where to begin. Computer and Data Science careers will help those that want to learn about programming theory, Python, SQL, data visualization, the command line, machine learning, and more. In addition, the Web Development career guide will help you master web languages such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

By using the Codeacademy platform, you can also learn PHP language essentials. Since PHP, JavaScript, HTML and CSS are the main components the WordPress platform relies on, getting familiar with them can help you on your path toward learning the ins and outs of the world’s most popular CMS, as well as its many free and premium WordPress themes.

There are also different skill paths that will help you become proficient in various skills, such as analyzing data, creating front-end and back-end apps with different programming languages, learning website building basics, and so on.

2. Khan Academy

This platform’s primary goal is to provide free classes with top-notch lessons and practice. If you enroll in a course at the Khan Academy, you will have access to exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard thanks to which you will be able to study at your own pace.

Aside from having tutors, this platform gives students the opportunity to share their knowledge with others. This learning method makes students interact with each other and thus engage with the subject at hand on a more accessible level. As a result, they can understand things more easily and quickly.

The Khan Academy offers a variety of computing courses. You can choose to learn a programming language, dive into the principles of computer science, or even select a course that will teach you how to draw with code. Plus, if you’re interested in anything else besides coding, there are other courses that you can embark on in fields of science & engineering, math, arts & humanities, etc.

3. Free Code Camp

This online platform lets you learn how to code for free – you just have to sign up and then you can start right away. Free Code Camp lets you participate in various coding challenges. Simultaneously, you can use interactive coding lessons, tutorials, videos, and other code-related articles. You’ll get to interact with other users, study together with them, and even ask more experienced coders for help.

Another awesome thing about this programming platform is that you get a chance to do some good while learning. Namely, at Free Code Camp you also have the opportunity to make apps for non-profit organizations. So, not only can you help non-profits grow, but you can also gain tons of experience and get yourself a good job opportunity along the way.

Some of the skills that you can develop while using this platform include HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Databases, Git & GitHub, and many others.

4. edX

Founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, edX is an online high education platform that offers high-quality courses in a wide variety of subjects – from architecture to social sciences. edX is great because it offers the possibility to access real college courses from the world’s best universities. In fact, more than 5 million students put their trust in this open source platform.

When it comes to computer science, edX offers both paid and free online courses. There are over a hundred free courses in different IT-related fields. Some of the available courses include Java, Python, C++, SQL, machine learning, mobile app development, etc.

5. W3Schools

As one of the largest web developer sites, W3Schools is an ideal platform for coding beginners. It offers free tutorials, exercises, and reference resources in various programming fields.

Here you can learn all about the programming languages and markups required for building a website, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and JQuery, PHP, SQL, and others. There are also tutorials on object-oriented languages, like Python, Java, and C++.

At W3Schools, you also get to study about modern CSS frameworks such as W3.CSS and Bootstrap, which are useful for designing faster and responsive web pages. In addition, there are multiple responsive web templates you can use for your projects while you learn. Last but not least, you get to take different coding exercises and quizzes that allow you to check what you’ve learned.

6. Codewars

This platform takes on a fun approach to programming. On Codewars you can go through a series of challenges named “kata” (a system of training exercises in martial arts such as karate). These challenges are designed in such a way that will help you acquire or improve a skill in a programming language. Once you complete a challenge, you get a higher rank. These challenges get more difficult as you advance further.

Every time you complete a challenge, you can see how others solved the same problem, which gives you an insight into different ways of thinking when it comes to programming and problem-solving techniques. Moreover, on this platform, you can even make your own challenges for others.

Some of the languages you get to practice at Codewars include Java, Python, Ruby, C++, JavaScript, CoffeeScript, TypeScript, SQL, and more.

7. Code.org

The main goal of Code.org platform is to make programming a regular part of the teaching curriculum. As such, its courses are mostly aimed at K 6-12 students, but literally anyone can benefit from them – and the same goes for coding beginners. You will have the opportunity to learn JavaScript, HTML, and CSS by accessing different lab courses. Plus, you will get to design apps and web pages, code with blocks, and learn how to make games and animations.

On Code.org you can also find many engaging one-hour tutorials called the “Hour of Code” made for all ages. You can sort tutorials by grade, popularity, technology, topics, length, and so on

8. Html Dog

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the three core languages required for web development. Together they are often used to create web pages and applications. Html Dog exists with the purpose of helping you master all three. On this platform, you can find various tutorial guides (beginner, intermediate and advanced), examples of code in action, as well as different techniques with which the three languages can be combined together to create web pages.

Conclusion

With so many coding resources available online, there’s no need for you to spend any money if you want to learn the coding essentials. That being said, if you’re still interested in learning further once you’ve got the basics, then do consider going for paid courses.

In our opinion, all the platforms we mentioned above have something valuable to offer to coding novices. They all feature a comprehensive database of coding resources and help users learn in a clear, logical and intuitive way. Plus, most of them encourage users to be creative on their own, which is particularly important for the development of coding skills. That’s why we recommend using one or a combination of a few different coding resources above that seem most suitable for you. We wish you luck with your coding endeavors!