How to Learn Coding

Coding has become an increasingly valuable skill for high-paying technical jobs. Learning how to code can help improve your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to find solutions to problems. Being able to code has value in industries beyond tech, making it a relevant and diverse skill. Numerous industries rely heavily on cloud-based technologies and databases to manage finances, employees, and typical business operations. 

This article will identify what programming language to learn depending on your career goals and the different learning options.

What is coding?

Coding, also called computer programming or programming, is simply a set of instructions given to a computer to perform a desired task. Writing code allows you to communicate with computers in a way they can understand. Without coding, devices such as cell phones, laptops, and computers wouldn’t be able to operate, as the instructions delivered in code serve as a set of rules for building computer technologies such as applications and websites. 

Read more: What Is Programming? And How To Get Started

Is coding difficult to learn?

The difficulty of learning to code can depend on which programming language you’re learning. While many languages exist, you can categorize them as either low-level or high-level programming languages. 

• Low-level languages are significantly different from human language since it’s machine-oriented. For example, machine code is a low-level language expressed as a string of binary digits. 

• High-level languages are user-oriented, making learning, understanding, and writing easier because they’re more similar to human language than low-level programming. Many popular programming languages are high-level languages, such as Python and JavaScript.

What are some popular programming languages?

When committing to learning a programming language, it’s helpful to ensure you’re learning a relevant language in the job market and will continue to be in the future. Python, JavaScript, C#, SQL, HTML, and Go are some of the most popular languages to consider learning:

Python

Python is a great option for beginners, as it’s one of the easier coding languages to learn. However, even advanced coders benefit from Python, as it’s highly versatile and offers numerous frameworks and libraries. This language is often used for:

• Back-end development

• Data analytics

• AI and machine learning 

• App development 

Read more: What Is Python Used For? A Beginner’s Guide

JavaScript

Javascript allows coders to build dynamic, user-friendly web pages, and most web browsers support JavaScript. It’s also considered easy to learn, making JavaScript one of the most popular programming languages in the world. This language is often used for: 

• Web development

• Web applications

• Game development

• Mobile apps

• Building web servers 

Read more: Java vs. JavaScript: What's the Difference?

C#

Pronounced “c sharp,” Microsoft developed C#, which is popular for its efficiency in writing code. C# is especially popular when using Microsoft Windows applications and in game and web development. This language is often used for: 

• Mobile apps 

• Cloud-based services

• Window applications

• Game development

Read more: C# vs. Java: Which to Choose?

SQL

SQL is an acronym for Structured Query Language. It allows users to manage data held in relational databases. You’re able to keep records, as well as store and retrieve data. SQL is easy to learn and works well with other programming languages. This language is often used for: 

• Business analytics

• Data analytics

• Data science

• Mobile and web development

Read more: What Does SQL Stand For?

HTML

Short for hypertext markup language, HTML serves as the basic foundation of websites, allowing you to control the format of it and how it appears to the user. This language is often used for:

• Structuring web pages

• Embedding images and videos 

• Game development

Read more: Easiest Programming Languages to Learn for Front-End Development

Go

Developed by Google, Go is a simple and flexible programming language growing in popularity. Go has a large vocabulary, allowing it to display more information than other languages. This language is often used for:

• Container services

• Network and cloud services

• Web services

• Data science

Deciding which language to learn

To decide which programming language to learn, it’s important to consider what you want to accomplish. Are you interested in web development? Or perhaps you’d like to become a data scientist. Depending on your desired career path, certain languages are more relevant. You should also consider how difficult it is to learn when choosing your first language. Let’s look at some careers where coding skills are valuable and which languages are relevant in each.

Web developer

Popular languages used in this role: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, PHP, Ruby, and Python

Web developers design and build websites, and usually fall into three categories: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. Front-end developers build the visual, user-facing components, back-end developers write code that enables proper functionality, and full-stack developers work in both the back-end and front-end of a website. 

Read more: What Does a Web Developer Do (and How Do I Become One)?

Data scientist

Popular languages used in this role: Python, SQL, Java, and R

Data scientists help companies make informed decisions by creating algorithms and predictive models to extract insights from data. They may use machine learning and programming languages to help analyze data. 

Read more: What Is a Data Scientist? Salary, Skills, and How to Become One

Software engineer

Popular languages used in this role: Python, JavaScript, SQL, C++, Ruby, and Go

Software engineers use programming languages to develop and maintain software applications and systems. They’ll develop software solutions that meet their company’s needs. 

Read more: Software Engineer Career Path: Overview and Options

Where and how to learn coding

Once you’ve established the programming language you want to learn, you’ll have several coding resources to choose from.

Colleges and universities

You can learn to code by pursuing a college degree in an area such as computer science. Your studies will generally include information beyond technical programming skills, such as theoretical principles. Completing a bachelor’s degree typically takes four years. Compared to your other options, pursuing a college degree is a large financial and time commitment; however, some employers may prefer candidates with a degree.

Read more: Is a Computer Science Degree Worth It?

Bootcamps

Bootcamps generally last three to six months and are a short-term intensive option to develop coding skills. Although short in duration, bootcamps focus on teaching you the technical skills that are in high demand so you’re qualified for coding positions in a matter of months. While earning a degree is great, employers are primarily concerned with whether or not you have the technical skills that qualify you for the job, which a bootcamp can often provide.

Read more: Coding Bootcamps: Options, Benefits, Requirements, and More

Free online resources

Online, you can find free, self-guided courses with structured tutorials. This allows you to learn to code without any financial commitment and on your own time. On Coursera, you can find a number of free beginner-friendly to more advanced courses to learn how to write code, such as Learn to Program: The Fundamentals, where you can learn the foundations of Python and Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming to create your first program in Scratch

Professional courses

You can take courses online to learn how to code and earn industry-respected certificates while doing so. The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is designed for beginners wanting to learn R programming and SQL.

Staying on top of trends

Coding is an ever-evolving field, with advancements and new tools constantly being developed. When pursuing a coding career, it’s important to continue developing your skill set and stay updated with the latest trends. To do this, evaluate your abilities on a regular basis and follow industry advancements. 

Getting started with Coursera

If you’re ready to start learning how to code, you can access Coursera courses to develop your programming skills. Python for Everybody Specialization from the University of Michigan covers fundamental skills in Python, including SQL. You can take the first step towards a career in web development by taking JavaScript for Beginners Specialization from UC Davis. No prior programming experience is necessary, and you can learn to code in JavaScript and understand core programming structures.