So, you want to learn more about web development – and are even thinking about becoming a web developer. But the internet has so many sources, figuring out where to start can be an overwhelming task. While there are countless tutorials on there that teach you different programming languages, being a web developer requires more than being able to memorize and write syntax. It’s about learning to develop a certain mindset around identifying problems within the language, and solving them with code.

1. Careerfoundry (Find out if web development is for you)

In this new and updated 5 day tutorial created by in-house CareerFoundry’s talented web developers, you’ll learn all about becoming a web developer – from the day-to-day responsibilities you can expect on the job, to the skills you’ll need to succeed in such a role. It goes into the basics of HTML, CSS, and Javascript, along with practical exercises and daily challenges. This is an introductory course, and it’s a great place to start if you want to find out whether or not web development is something you can see yourself doing.

For those of you who already are somewhat familiar with the basics of web development, CareerFoundry also offers a comprehensiv Web Development Program, which allows you to become an officially certified web developer upon successful completion.

2. Coursera (Learn from university lectures)

Founded in 2012 by Stanford University Computer Science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, Coursera is an online learning platform offering university courses from top academic institutions. You can enroll in most courses for free, but you can also choose to get a degree or certificate by paying a tuition fee. Coursera has several popular programming courses which last about four to ten weeks each. Once enrolled, you have access to a structured program with weekly exercises, video lectures, and a final project or exam.

3. FreeCodeCamp (Jump into the practical aspect immediately) 

FreeCodeCamp was first launched in 2014, and is a non-profit organization that aims to help aspiring web developers learn the necessary skills needed to succeed in the role. The tutorials are super helpful for beginners as they dive right into the practical aspect of coding by making you write code from the start. A huge part of becoming a web developer is about the repetitive practice of writing code. This is where FreeCodeCamp comes in handy: each topic is split into short lessons that give you the opportunity to solve a challenge with a specific code

Another great thing about FreeCodeCamp is that you get the chance to participate in projects for other non-profit organizations once you’ve completed the courses and practice levels. This is a huge plus when it comes to building out your portfolio.

4. Codeacademy (Learn from one of the oldest and most famous sites)

Codeacademy was founded in 2011 and is one of the most famous platforms out there for learning code. Like Codecamp, you jump right into the practical aspect with tutorials that give you just the amount of information needed to finish a task and move on to the next one. You’ll access more and more information as the course progresses. The platform used to be free, but now offers free courses for the basic account for interactive lessons and daily practice and a paid pro account for those who want to dive deeper.

5. Web Dev Simplified (Learn by seeing live code on screen)

If you want to understand certain concepts better, and want to learn web development skills in a practical way by seeing live code happening on screen, Web Dev Simplified is a great additional resource for studying. This Youtube channel dives into advanced topics using the latest best practices for seasoned web developers, and you’ll learn all about the necessary tools and newest technologies of full stack development.

6. LearnCode.academy Youtube Channel

Another great Youtube channel is called LearnCode.academy . Created by software engineer Will Stern, it has several different playlists which cover a wide variety of topics for everyone from beginners to advanced learners. Featuring beginner tutorials and pro web development tools, LearnCode.academy is a great resource for keeping up with the latest trends in web development. I especially recommend this channel if you want to learn Javascript and learn about current professional tools.

7. Codepip (Learn code in a fun way)

Sometimes, it’s motivating to learn new concepts in a fun way – especially after having finished a long study session that required a lot of reading, or when getting stuck on a specific problem. Playing games can remove the seriousness of studying, and remind you that coding can also be fun. Codepipis a platform that helps you learn HTML, CSS, and Javascript concepts through coding games. My personal favourite is FlexboxFroggy. It was designed to explain the concept of Flexbox, a CSS layout model, which is essential for coding responsive websites.

8. Web Documentation (Learn to solve problems on your own)

One of the key aspects of becoming a web developer is being able to autonomously find solutions to problems. Any web developer will make use of certain web documentations when researching solutions. It requires you to implement the “Read-Search-Method” which prepares you for real world professional scenarios.

The documentation regularly use is MDN Web Docs: It stands for “Mozilla Development Network”, but there are other documentations you can use, such as W3Schools, or devdocs.io.

Let’s say, for example, you’re studying HTML, and want to find out more about paragraphs. You simply type “HTML paragraphs MDN” into google search, and would end up herewhere you can read all about HTML paragraphs.  

Many professionals recommend MDN rather than W3schools, as it’s more comprehensive overall — but my tip is to try out different sources and stick with the ones that are most helpful to you!

9. Google Chrome DevTools (Learn how it is to work with essentials tools all web developers work with)

Every professional web developer works with the Chrome DevTools. Chrome DevTools is a set of web developer tools built directly into Google Chrome that can help you edit pages directly in the browser and diagnose problems quickly, making you skilled in quickly and efficiently building great websites.

You can access it by opening any page on Google Chrome, then right click and select “inspect”. For any aspiring web developer, I highly recommend learning how to use the inspector from the beginning, as it will help you understand problems much quicker. You can start by inspecting and examining HTML and CSS, and as you learn more and advance in your studies, you’ll be able to do much so more with Chrome DevTools— like debugging in Javascript, consoling logs, or performing audits.

10. Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set (Take some of your extra time to read a book about web development)

This book set called “Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set” is a two=part series written by John Duckett, who has worked as a web strategy consultant, building websites for over a decade. He’s published several books on web development and web design, as well as co-authoring in several web development related projects.

This book provides a well-rounded learning experience, as it explains fundamental concepts with clear examples and large colorful illustrations — allowing the reader to easily grasp the content in an efficient way.

Final thoughts

So there we have it: an overview of the best tutorials to help you get started in the world of web development! Remember to focus on the fundamentals of frontend development initially, and dive deeper into other languages and technologies once you’ve developed your understanding of web development a little further. Be curious, determined, and hard-working, and your efforts will pay off!