6 best online courses to learn CSS and Javascript
Have you always been tickled with curiosity about how computer programming works but haven’t done anything on the web except send an email?
Then this is your guide.
To someone who is new to coding, the idea of creating a website from scratch- layout, designing, details can all seem intimidating. You might look at experts and think, I can never do that.. but you can.
Coding can be learned by anyone who has a will for it. Programming is like learning a new foreign language. Each of them has their own set of rules and different methods of application. They’re a way to prompt your computer, rather your browser telling them what to do.
What is CSS
Cascading Style Sheets, like the name suggests is what adds style to your website. All those interesting fonts, slick colors and background images are all thanks to CSS. It affects the entire look and feel of the website making it an incredibly powerful tool for website developers to learn.
What is Javascript
CSS is great for a simple and presentable website but if you want to add further inputs to your website by making it more interactive then you have to use Javascript. It is a complicated language but nowadays every site on the web uses this for detailed functionality.
Being one of the most commonly-used programming languages on the internet, Javascript can be used to carry out complicated operations.
Why is Javascript important?
Javascript is used by web browsers to create extensive and interactive experiences. It helps in adapting into different additional functions depending on the situation.
Javascript is also known as the client-side script- a programming language that performs its task entirely on the client/user’s machine and does not require interacting with the server to function.
Some of the enhancements programmed in Javascript are
• Autocomplete
• Loading new content or data onto the page without reloading the page
• Rollover effects and drop-down menus
• Animating page elements such as fading, resizing or relocating
• Playing audio and video
• Validating input from Web forms
• Repairing browser compatibility issues
Future of Javascript
Javascript is first of its kind and is widely used across the globe. Since its inception, there were various improvements made to the language making them easy to use and target a specific application. Developers are also creators who want to enhance the internet experience by adding interaction and complexity into their applications.
Search engines, e-commerce, content management systems, responsive design, social media and phone apps would not be as fun as they are without Javascript.
In this article, we are going to talk about websites that offer free courses in CSS and Javascript
Lynda
Lynda is a leading online platform that helps to learn about technology, IT and skill enhancement to achieve personal goals. Their courses are of top-quality and taught by industry experts.
They offer tutorials in CSS and Java that can help responsive designing and also teach some of the best practices used so far. They also let you explore techniques for styling grids, fonts, forms and versatile layout techniques.
Udemy
Udemy is a global marketplace for learning and teaching online where students can master new skills and achieve their goals with the extensive library of courses.
Most of the courses offered are paid but are marked at affordable rates. The course gives exposure to a complete web development process from start to finish. Even teaches web design guidelines that can be applied to real world web projects.
Dash
Dash is a free online learning platform specifically catering to coding. Their courses teach the basics of web development through projects you can do in your browser.
The courses in the form of video content that teaches coding websites via HTML, CSS and Javascript. Under CSS, it teaches how to style the landing page, modern navigation elements and many more design layouts. Under Javascript it teaches how to create interactive interfaces, adding UI effects like animations and other components that enhance the user experience.
Udacity
Udacity focuses on building an online university- they teach skills required by industries and educate people at a fraction of the cost of a traditional school.
The course at Udacity is free and is not your typical intro’ because it does not follow the basic pattern taught by other online courses. They have a reverse approach to teaching where they will dismantle design mockups into static web pages. The course encourages thinking from a front-end developer before approaching the task.
edX
Edx concentrates on teaching and learning for everyone and everywhere. They have an open-source platform that provides some Edx courses for free.
In this course, learners will gain knowledge of both the languages CSS and Javascript are will be encouraged to combine them to create compelling web application solutions. This course teaches basic tasks that are necessary to create web applications with a strong semantic structure, re-usable style components and custom interactive features.
Coursera
Coursera is go-to for any topic you want to advance in or learn about. Courses include recorded video lectures, auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, and community discussion forums.
You can take the course up even if you don’t have any expertise in this field. First, HTML together with CSS are discussed and explored. Then it moves on to consider the essential components of JavaScript, including variables, arrays, loops, events and functions. Then it explores more advanced elements of JavaScript.
Bonus
CSS Tricks
This website is a must visit for anyone who wants to be part of the CSS Bandwagon.
Conclusion
As the generation is getting tech savvy, companies are now shifting their focus to create exclusive, yet well designed, user-friendly websites. Even if you are not a programmer, it is always good to increase your skill sets.
The most difficult part about coding is getting started- but once you’ve mastered the basics the advanced courses get easier.
Don’t hold up and start now.
