How to Learn Coding
Learn how you can develop your coding skills and which programming languages are important for different careers.
![[Featured Image] A computer teacher is show students how to code.](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5nXWo1rYcEITwyjwC5D9K9/1a56f42363516d2b27e83e3baaad6175/GettyImages-1496864183.jpg?w=1500&h=680&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=1000)
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.
specialization
Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals
Build the foundation of your career in Software. Develop hands-on experience with Git, GitHub, Linux, and Python, and learn the fundamentals of Software Engineering.
4.7
Beginner level
Average time: 2 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Software Design and Architecture, Python Programming, Git and GitHub, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Linux, Shell Script, Bash (Unix Shell), Extract Transform and Load (ETL), Linux Commands, Software Engineering, Software Architecture, Agile and Scrum, Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS), Git (Software), Github, open source, Cloning and forking, Data Science, Data Analysis, Numpy, Pandas, Application development, Web Application, Flask, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What is coding?
Coding, also called programming, is 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 ease of learning to code can depend on which programming language you’re learning. While many languages exist, you can categorize them as low-level or high-level programming languages.
Low-level languages are significantly different from human language because they are 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.
Read more: 5 Types of Programming Languages
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
AI and machine learning
App development
specialization
Python for Everybody
Learn to Program and Analyze Data with Python. Develop programs to gather, clean, analyze, and visualize data.
4.8
Beginner level
Average time: 2 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Json, Xml, Python Programming, Database (DBMS), Python Syntax And Semantics, Basic Programming Language, Computer Programming, Sqlite, SQL, Data Structure, Tuple, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Web Scraping
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
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IBM Full-Stack JavaScript Developer
Launch your Full-Stack JavaScript Developer career. Build the skills and hands-on experience to get job-ready in under four months. No prior experience required.
4.7
Beginner level
Average time: 4 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Full-Stack Development, Azure DevOps, javascript library, JavaScript, React, Node, Openshift, Docker, Kubernetes, Containers, Cloud Native, Career, Software Engineer, Coding Challenge, interview Preparation, Full Stack Developer, Server-side JavaScript, back-end development, Computer Science, Web Development, express, Mongodb, Express.Js, Web, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Json, Software Development, Computer Programming, JavaScript (Programming Language), Ajax (Programming Language), React (Web Framework), Front-end Development, User Interface, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, agile, Devops, Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS), Git (Software), Github, open source, Cloning and forking, Software Engineering, Software Architecture, Python Programming, Agile and Scrum, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Database (DBMS), Representational State Transfer (REST), Cloud Applications, Microservices, serverless
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
specialization
C# Programming for Unity Game Development
Learn to Program Unity Games with C#. Learn C# programming and how to use C# in Unity games
4.7
Beginner level
Average time: 3 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Crt0, For Loop, Console Applications, Foreach Loop, Video Game Development, C Sharp (C#) (Programming Language), Unity (User Interface), Game Programming
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
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IBM Front-End Developer
Build job-ready front-end skills employers need. Master the development skills to plan, build, deploy, and test web designs and application interfaces in just 4 months!
4.6
Beginner level
Average time: 4 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
front-end development, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, Mongodb, agile, Devops, Software Development, React (Web Framework), Front-end Development, Front-end design, Web Development, JavaScript, Web, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), User Interface, Wordpress, Front-End Web Development, UI/UX Designer, No-code, Website Wireframe, User Interface design (UI Design), Progressive Web Development, Figma, User Experience (UX), Responsive, Bootstrap, Grid system, Web Development Framework, Software Engineering, Software Architecture, Python Programming, Agile and Scrum, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Webpack, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), javascript library, Debugging, Career, Software Engineer, Coding Challenge, interview Preparation, Full Stack Developer, Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS), Git (Software), Github, open source, Cloning and forking
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. When choosing your first programming language, it's important to consider the learning difficulty. Let’s look at some careers where coding skills are valuable and which languages are relevant in each.
1. 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.
specialization
Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding
Learn to Design and Create Websites. Build a responsive and accessible web portfolio using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript
4.8
Beginner level
Average time: 2 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Responsive Web Design, Html5, Web Development, JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Web Design, Web Accessibility, HTML, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Document Object Model (DOM), Style Sheets
Read more: What Does a Web Developer Do (and How Do I Become One)?
2. 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.
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IBM Data Science
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4.6
Beginner level
Average time: 4 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Generative AI, Data Science, Model Selection, Data Analysis, Python Programming, Data Visualization, Predictive Modelling, Numpy, Pandas, Dashboards and Charts, dash, Matplotlib, Cloud Databases, Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), SQL, Jupyter notebooks, Machine Learning, Clustering, regression, classification, SciPy and scikit-learn, CRISP-DM, Methodology, Data Mining, Github, Jupyter Notebook, K-Means Clustering, Data Science Methodology, Rstudio, Big Data, Deep Learning, Quering Databases, Data Generation, Career Development, Interviewing Skills, Job Preparation, Resume Building
Read more: What Is a Data Scientist? Salary, Skills, and How to Become One
3. 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.
specialization
Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals
Build the foundation of your career in Software. Develop hands-on experience with Git, GitHub, Linux, and Python, and learn the fundamentals of Software Engineering.
4.7
Beginner level
Average time: 2 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Software Design and Architecture, Python Programming, Git and GitHub, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Linux, Shell Script, Bash (Unix Shell), Extract Transform and Load (ETL), Linux Commands, Software Engineering, Software Architecture, Agile and Scrum, Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS), Git (Software), Github, open source, Cloning and forking, Data Science, Data Analysis, Numpy, Pandas, Application development, Web Application, Flask, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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.
Earn Your Degree
Read more: Is a Computer Science Degree Worth It?
Boot camps
Bootcamps generally last three to six months and are a short-term intensive option to develop coding skills. Although short in duration, boot camps 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 boot camp 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.
Stay updated on 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 regularly 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. Upon completing either program, gain a shareable certificate to include in your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile.
specialization
Python for Everybody
Learn to Program and Analyze Data with Python. Develop programs to gather, clean, analyze, and visualize data.
4.8
Beginner level
Average time: 2 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Json, Xml, Python Programming, Database (DBMS), Python Syntax And Semantics, Basic Programming Language, Computer Programming, Sqlite, SQL, Data Structure, Tuple, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Web Scraping
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
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