Generally speaking, HTML and CSS aren’t considered hard to learn, but this will depend on factors like the depth of study and your prior experience. And, even for those well equipped, there are some challenges you will encounter. However, learning HTML & CSS is achievable for most anyone if you are dedicated.
What is Hard about Learning HTML & CSS?
There are a few things about learning HTML & CSS that can be challenging. In the beginning, new coders will need to know the complicated process of using a language’s grammar, syntax, and vocabulary to construct valid statements that a web browser can understand. This can take some time with new users. Think of it like learning a new spoken language; you’ll start with the basics of vocabulary, syntax, and sentence structure and mastering these things can be slow and tedious. Once you’re proficient in this process, the difficulty lies in constructing more complex web pages using HTML & CSS, such as multimedia content or animations.
Your first web page will typically be simple, time-consuming to produce, and contain errors that need correcting. You will build single-color, text-only web pages that look simple and dated, but this is a crucial step to learning to develop more complex web pages. Like learning a language, the best way to overcome these difficulties is through dedicated and consistent practice and an understanding that these are skills one builds up over time.
How Can I Make Learning HTML & CSS Easier?
Choosing the right learning method for you is one important way to make learning HTML & CSS easier. There are several methods to consider and each come with their own pros and cons. When choosing a method that’s best for you, you’ll also want to consider how quickly you want to learn and if a full-time or part-time class is better for you (should you choose to attend a structured course).
Full-time classes and part-time classes may differ in how comprehensive they are as well. Some part-time classes, in order to save on time, may not cover as many topics as a full-time course. Plus, a full-time course offers a more immersive experience, as you’ll spend less time being pulled away from your studies to deal with other work or life responsibilities.
With all that in mind, below are some questions you should ask yourself when considering the options described below in this article:
- Are you between jobs or able to take vacation time to complete a full-time training course?
- Are you only free in the evenings and need a class that can accommodate your schedule?
- How quickly do you need to master HTML & CSS?
- How immersive do you want your program to be
Online or In-Person Training and Bootcamps
Live training and bootcamps, whether attended virtually or in-person, tend to be the fastest way to learn HTML & CSS. Live online classes offer instant feedback from your teacher and interactions with other students, creating the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the coursework. These classes are ideal for students that thrive in a structured learning environment with routine accountability check-ins. If you encounter any challenging material, you can ask questions in real time instead of spending unnecessary time figuring it out on your own. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability, two things that can help you succeed. You’ll master HTML & CSS the quickest in a full-time course, but any class with scheduled times will help you learn faster than trying to master HTML & CSS entirely on your own or in an on-demand program.
On-Demand Classes
Also known as self-paced, on-demand classes offer the most flexibility of any class option but don’t win any awards for speed. They do have quite a few benefits for busy professionals, though. Not only can you learn from wherever you want, you can also learn whenever you want. There are no due dates or scheduled class times, so you can take your time on challenging topics or skip over ones you’ve already mastered. These classes are ideal for learners with complicated schedules who need to squeeze their studying in around their work and other obligations. You’ll need to be an independent and self-motivated student to succeed in an on-demand class. It’s very easy to lose momentum or fall behind when you don’t have any outside accountability, so these courses tend to take longer than a structured live course.
Free Resources
Free resources are available for learning HTML & CSS. YouTube boasts a wide range of tutorials and informative videos on all kinds of coding subjects: from short five-minute episodes on the fundamentals to more in-depth breakdowns of advanced topics. YouTube is a great way to explore your initial interest or get answers to specific questions on HTML & CSS. Other websites like Google and LinkedIn offer short free tutorials and trainings designed to help you grasp the history and basic principles of HTML & CSS.
Free resources are often your fastest option and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Their brevity is one reason they are so popular for beginners, but the drawback of these courses is that they will lack the in-depth knowledge and real-time interaction with an expert instructor that more immersive programs offer. With that in mind, it’s best to use these resources as a brief introduction to make sure you’re interested in the subject (or as supplemental learning materials) as opposed to the sole source of your education.
Best Ways to Learn HTML & CSS Without Difficulty
Learn HTML & CSS Skills with Noble Desktop
Live HTML and CSS courses are an ideal learning method for those entirely new to the field. Live online classes are great for those who prefer a solitary learning environment with minimal distractions. They allow you to learn from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose), providing more flexibility. Additionally, if you live in an area with limited (or no) in-person options, online classes open up more opportunities for you.
A great place to start would be Intro to HTML & CSS, a hands-on course that will teach you the basics of both of these fundamental tools. You’ll hand code a webpage from scratch using HTML, learning how to format paragraphs, headings, and lists. You’ll also learn how to create links, add images, and modify tags with attributes. By the end of class, you’ll be familiar with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), including tag selectors, class selectors, and the class attribute.
Noble Desktop’s HTML Email Certificate will help you gain skills to create responsive emails with personality. Boasting small class sizes led by expert instructors, you’ll learn HTML and CSS coding, including how to code effective and cross-mail-client compatible emails and optimize emails for desktop, webmail, and mobile users. By the end of this program, you’ll be able to code emails that display properly in various email apps for your business or clients.
Their Web Development with HTML & CSS will teach you how to develop websites with HTML and CSS, the coding languages used to create web pages. Using HTML, you’ll learn how to create webpages with text, images, and more. Then you’ll use CSS to style the content, create centered page layouts, add background images, style navigation, and make the page responsive so it adapts to various screen sizes using media queries. Finally, you’ll upload files to FTP to make your site go live.
If you’re looking to go a little deeper, you could try the Front End Web Development Certificate. You’ll learn HTML to mark up web pages, CSS for styling, JavaScript to add interactivity and animation, and Git to track code changes and collaborate with other developers. Ideal for those new to coding, you’ll develop the skills to create responsive websites optimized for any size screen (mobile, tablet, and desktop). Additionally, you’ll learn how to use WordPress, the world's leading content management system, to create customizable websites and edit content without the need to be a programming expert.
You could also attend Noble’s Software Engineering Certificate. The program's first section covers basics like how to HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling. You'll also learn the fundamentals of JavaScript, Git for version control, and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder web page content, and make it adapt to different size screens. You’ll build upon these beginner skills while you learn fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Then you’ll learn React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development. Finally, you'll learn the lexical syntax of Python and master advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. You'll progress to object-oriented programming, working with APIs, and querying databases with SQL, and get an introduction to Django, a Python web framework used for back end web programming. By the end of this course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to pursue a career in software engineering.
How to Learn HTML & CSS
Master HTML and CSS with hands-on training. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are used to build and style webpages.
- Front-End Web Development Certificate at Noble Desktop: live, instructor-led course available in NYC or live online
- Find HTML & CSS Classes Near You: Search & compare dozens of available courses in-person
- Attend a HTML & CSS class live online (remote/virtual training) from anywhere
- Find & compare the best online HTML & CSS classes (on-demand) from the top providers and platforms
- Train your staff with corporate and onsite HTML & CSS training