Other popular programming languages to help build applications include Python, C programming, and Java. HTML and CSS are basic languages that, along with JavaScript, comprise the foundation for nearly everything on the front end (user-facing side) of the internet. Learning to code begins with choosing a programming language. You can start your journey for free with edX, and build that fluency into real-world innovations. It requires memorization, practice, and fluency. To learn coding, you will need similar skills to those needed for learning a new language.

Some of the possibilities with programming include:īuilding and styling web pages and mobile apps.Ĭreating algorithms to predict financial, health, and retail trends or needs.ĭeveloping software that integrates programmable devices into everyday life, such as automatic vacuums and self-checkout lines. Computer science is prevalent across all fields and is one of the building blocks for designing solutions to pressing societal issues. Footnote 1Ĭlear, robust code can be used as an industry-changing tool and a creative outlet. It is similar to giving a chef a recipe or a teacher a lesson plan.

Through code, programmers can tell a computer what actions to take, and in what order and circumstances. Learning how to code is a 21st-century skill that enables humans to communicate with computers.