How to Learn Coding

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on Mar 11, 2025

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.

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.

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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.

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
Data analytics
AI and machine learning
App development

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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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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

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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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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

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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.

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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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Data Visualization, Predictive Modeling, Jupyter, Generative AI, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Plotly, Matplotlib, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Exploratory Data Analysis, Dashboard, Supervised Learning, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Wrangling, SQL, Regression Analysis, Professional Networking, Data Mining, Data Literacy, Data Synthesis, Data Presentation, Predictive Analytics, Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Data Manipulation, Data Ethics, Feature Engineering, Data Cleansing, Data Modeling, Data Storytelling, Machine Learning, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Dimensionality Reduction, Applied Machine Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Statistical Analysis, Python Programming, Pandas (Python Package), NumPy, Data Pipelines, Data Import/Export, Descriptive Statistics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Modeling, R Programming, GitHub, Git (Version Control System), Application Programming Interface (API), Query Languages, Data Analysis Software, Other Programming Languages, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Software Development Tools, Statistical Programming, Version Control, Cloud Services, Open Source Technology, Development Environment, Computer Programming Tools, Stored Procedure, Transaction Processing, Databases, Database Management, Relational Databases, Database Design, Web Scraping, Data Structures, Programming Principles, Restful API, Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), File Management, Interviewing Skills, Portfolio Management, Applicant Tracking Systems, Business Research, Professional Development, Recruitment, Communication, Talent Sourcing, Writing, Job Analysis, Problem Solving, Presentations, Company, Product, and Service Knowledge, Scatter Plots, Histogram, Box Plots, Seaborn, Heat Maps, Geospatial Information and Technology, Digital Transformation, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Collection, Machine Learning Methods, Data Processing, Data Quality, Business Analysis, User Feedback, Peer Review, Decision Tree Learning

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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Updated on Mar 11, 2025

Written by:

Coursera Staff

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