If you are still unfamiliar with the world of programming and web development, then chances are you are still debating whether to take paid coding classes online or just learn coding on the internet for free.
You probably heard stories about coders who just learned how to code using the internet or whose line of work is completely different but still managed to easily learn coding.
Well, not to get your hopes up, but it could be you as well.
Thanks to the internet, there are a lot of free coding websites and publicly available resources that can help you jump start your career in coding.
It is never too late or too early to start learning coding languages.
However, it is important to take note that learning how to code is never easy. It can be challenging, and sometimes frustrating.
But once you get the hang of it, it would be less difficult as time progresses.
Before we discuss some of the best free coding websites out there, let us answer some of the basic questions you might ask.
Table of Contents
What is the easiest coding language to learn?
There are several coding languages to choose from, and you might be surprised that just like any other languages, there are also over 250 coding languages out there.
Some of which you might already be familiar with, and some of which you might not even heard of.
So before you decide on the coding language you want to learn, it is best to understand the difference between markup languages and programming languages first.
Markup languages like HTML and XML are fairly easy to learn. They are mostly used by developers for web design and web development.
A programming language, on the other hand, is a set of code written by programmers. These sets of codes are instructions or rules that tell a computer what and how to do a certain action.
Programmers are still at a crossroads in deciding what programming language is the easiest. Some say Python is the easiest, while some argue that Ruby and JavaScript are easier compared to Python.
That being the case, we highly suggest that instead of picking the easiest language to learn, try to learn the coding language that greatly sparks your interest instead.
For instance, if you want to build an iOS app then you should consider learning Swift, if you want to create beautiful websites then you should start looking into HTML, or if you want to create 3D games then you should learn C++.
In the end, all coding languages are difficult to learn especially if you are just starting.
But if you pick the right coding language that matches your interests, then all your effort and hard work in learning would eventually yield great results.
To further help you decide which coding language you should learn, I have listed some of the most common coding languages used today.
Markup languages
- CSS
- HTML
- XML
Programing languages
- Python
- Java
- JavaScript
- Lua
- Ruby
- C++
- C#
- Swift
- Go
- Dart
How do I teach myself how to code?
There are several coding websites that can teach you how to code.
However, before you delve in and learn different coding languages, you need to understand the fundamentals and concepts behind coding first.
For instance, if you want to learn a new programming language like Java, then you need to understand the logic and concepts behind programming first.
You would not be able to learn how to code in JavaScript if you do not have any foundational knowledge about programming.
Luckily, there are numerous ways to learn the basics of programming.
You can start with block-based programming and kids coding languages like Scratch, from there you can learn the syntax and logic of programming.
Afterward, you can then ultimately move to learning text-based coding language as JavaScript.
It is also worth mentioning that some languages can be used alongside different coding languages.
For example, programming languages like JavaScript can be accompanied and enhanced by markup languages like HTML and CSS.
So with that in mind, you should not constrict yourself to learning only one language. Some coding languages are transferable and can be used to make learning other coding languages a lot easier.
That is why you should try and familiarize yourself with as many coding languages as you can.
Which website is best for coding?
Coursera
If you are looking for courses that are taught by professors at leading universities, then Coursera is the perfect website for you.
Founded by Stanford professors Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, Coursera offers free courses on coding.
Coursera is rich with references and resources from top universities and instructors, some of which are even created by companies like Google, IBM, and Amazon.
So it is without a doubt a legitimate website where you can professionally learn how to code.
Aside from that, you can also get professional certificates every time you finish a course. However, these are bonuses and you have to pay to get those certificates.
Listed below are some of the top coding courses from this website
- Python for Everybody (University of Michigan)
- Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding (University of Michigan)
- Programming Foundations with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS (Duke University)
edX
Another one to add to the list of open online course providers is edX. Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is an open-source higher education learning platform where you can take several courses on coding.
It offers both free and paid courses, and just like Coursera, you can get a paid professional certificate every time you finish a course.
What makes edX standout is that it is founded by elite universities and it has over 100 partner universities, some of which are top universities from Oxford, Zurich, and London.
Some of the courses and programs in edX are
- CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science (HarvardX)
- introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
- How to Code: Simple Data (University of British Columbia)
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is one of the most trusted educational and math help websites of students. It became increasingly popular in America because of their test prep on SAT.
Apart from that, this learning websites for kids is also one of the most promising online learning platforms for aspiring coders who do not have any background in coding whatsoever.
It provides a great introduction to several coding languages like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, and so on.
Some of their instructional and educational videos are also uploaded on Youtube, so you can watch it with ease either on your mobile device or desktop.
It is also worth mentioning that Khan Academy is partnered with code.org as well. With that, their website also provides a great introduction to how the computer and the internet works.
Some of the units under their programming course are
- Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation
- Intro to HTML/CSS: Making webpages
- Intro to SQL: Querying and managing data
MIT OpenCourseware
Nowadays, you can get an MIT-level education without actually getting into MIT.
Thanks to OpenCourseWare, all of MIT’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses are now publicly available online.
You can now easily read and download syllabus, readings, lecture notes, and many more.
Aside from that, you can test your progress and download quizzes and exams made by top professors and instructors from MIT.
It is worth noting however that unlike edX and Coursera, MIT OpenCourseware only has limited educational videos and lectures available and you cannot get a certificate after completing a course.
The main initiative of the website is to provide free access to all education materials used by students of MIT.
With that, we highly suggest to not only rely on this website. You should accompany it with other resources and materials from another coding websites.
Some of its most-visited courses related to coding are
- introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python
- Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
- Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science
Codecademy
Unlike the four online platforms we have mentioned above, Codecademy only offers courses on coding.
It is a coding website that provides both free and paid courses on web development, programming, and data science.
Since their main focus is on computer science, they offer a wide range of courses from introductory programming to more advanced languages that you might not even heard of.
This coding website is perfect for both aspiring coders, who do not have any background in coding, and seasoned coders, who want to polish and update their coding skills.
Codecademy has free introductory subjects and paid courses on different programming languages such as
- Ruby
- PHP
- Swift
- Kotlin
- Python
- Java; and
- so on.
Code.org
One of the most trusted and important coding websites out there is code.org.
Its main initiative is to increase participation among young women and students from underrepresented groups.
With this initiative, their approach is mainly grassroots, which is teaching coding and the basics of computer science to students and kids.
This coding website is perfect for all aspiring coders, regardless of age, who do not have any experience or background in coding.
Most of their free coding courses are designed for K-12 students so even adults who want to learn coding at a late age can easily jump on the website and learn.
There are also several fun coding activities where you can play coding games all the while practicing what you have learned. They also have an App Lab where you can create simple coding apps for kids.
In addition, they are also partnered with several online platforms like Udemy and Khan Academy.
Some of the courses that can be found on their website are
- Computer Science Fundamentals
- Computer Science Principles
- Computer Science Discoveries
CodaKid
We would like to finish this list with another coding website for students and kids. This coding website is perfect for aspiring coders who wants to learn how to code at an early age.
CodaKid is an online coding website that is specifically geared towards teaching kids how to code. They taught nearly 10,000 students from around the world.
It has an active pool of tutors and instructors who you can ask for help and assistance should you ever hit a roadblock in any of your projects.
Since this coding website mainly teaches young aspiring coders, the course contents and coding classes for kids are really easy-to-follow and easy-to-understand.
CodaKid makes every lesson and learning materials simple, fun, and engaging for every student. This way, kids would be able to absorb and understand complex information with ease.
Some of the fun online courses they offer are
- Roblox Game Development: Battle Royale;
- Game Programming 1 with Python; and
- Drone Programming 1 with Arduino
We have also wrote an article on Roblox for skeptic users out there. It is titled Is Roblox Safe for Kids and you can click on the link to read more about it.
Conclusion
With the coding websites cited above, you are now ready to start on your journey in learning how to code.
Apart from the websites mentioned above, there are other subjects and resources related to coding that are freely and openly accessible for everyone. Using educational materials like math apps, coding games, and even logic tests would be helpful in your journey of learning how to code.
Thanks to the internet, most of the resources and materials you need are already at your fingertips. From websites like
What you just really need now is dedication and enthusiasm to actually learn it. Afterward, you can then master any coding languages and be the coder you have always aspire to be.
Todd VanDuzer
Latest posts by Todd VanDuzer (see all)
- Why Finding the Right Thing to Study Matters: Setting the Foundation for Success - July 26, 2023
- How USA Staff Onboarding Benefits From Innovative Software - July 26, 2023
- Top 7 Best Reasons to Get an MBA - June 7, 2023
- How to Support Your Child When They Go to College - April 29, 2023
- How to Maximize Your Job Search with Expert Resume Writers Experienced in Your Field - April 20, 2023