Best Free JavaScript Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn JavaScript but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. Fortunately, this language is open-source, meaning it’s entirely free to use. Additionally, many of JavaScript’s libraries and frameworks are also free. As a result, there are numerous free resources available to help beginners get the hang of this exciting program before committing to more costly ways to learn.

Read on to learn more about the different types of free resources and tutorials available to help you learn JavaScript.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich. The language was originally intended to be a straightforward scripting language that could speed up input validation on websites. In recent years, JavaScript has exploded in popularity and is used for much, much more. This programming language is most commonly used for web, application, and browser-based game development. It is a foundational skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career in one of those fields.

In particular, JavaScript helps Developers add interactive components to the website, application, or game they’re working on. Part of what makes this language so popular is that it can be used on any browser. JavaScript is also free to use, making it widely accessible to anyone who wants to learn it. Similarly, the many libraries and frameworks that help make JavaScript so versatile, including React, Node.js, and Express, are also open-source.

Read more about what JavaScript is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with JavaScript?

Imagine visiting a website but being unable to interact with anything. Nothing moves or changes color when you hover over it, and as you scroll through the page, everything is just a static image or text. Sounds pretty boring, doesn't it?

Now, think about a website you’ve recently visited. It’s likely that as you scrolled through the page, graphics popped into view with a flourish. You may have noticed an image carousel that automatically shifted from photo to photo, or a button that changed color when you hovered over it. When you wanted to navigate to another page on the website, you clicked a hamburger menu that exposed clickable links to these pages.

All of this is made possible with JavaScript, which adds interactive elements to websites that would otherwise be entirely static. While HTML and CSS, two languages fundamental to web design, are static by design, JavaScript makes websites more responsive and engaging to viewers. This helps ensure visitors spend as much time interacting with a website’s various components as possible.

In addition to web development, individuals also use JavaScript to build mobile and web applications. In fact, popular social media sites rely upon JavaScript and its associated frameworks, like React, to build the user interfaces of their applications. Likewise, Developers use JavaScript to build browser-based games (Bejeweled, anyone?), making this language both a highly useful and enjoyable one to learn.

Online JavaScript Forums and Tutorials

A great free way to learn about JavaScript is by reading as much about the language as possible. You’d be surprised how much you can pick up simply by reading about other people’s experiences. This includes exploring forums like GitHub Discussions or Reddit, where professionals speak about current JavaScript trends or troubleshoot their code. These forums also provide an excellent avenue for receiving individualized feedback and support if you have a question of your own.

You can also learn about JavaScript by visiting the blogs of experts who use JavaScript every day. Noble Desktop regularly publishes blog posts about JavaScript, which can be a great place to start if you’re just starting to learn about this language and its associated libraries and frameworks.

Additionally, watching online tutorials about JavaScript, such as those you might find on YouTube, provides another free learning avenue. If you search for “Intro to JavaScript classes” on YouTube, you’ll pull up thousands of online tutorials that can introduce you to basic JavaScript topics. If you decide to pursue this approach, be sure to watch videos that the creator uploaded as recently as possible. This can help ensure you receive the most up-to-date information about this language.

Noble Desktop has a web development playlist on YouTube that provides a wealth of resources for anyone wanting to learn about web development in general or JavaScript in particular. This includes resources like tutorials about React, a popular JavaScript library, and Node.js, a JavaScript run-time environment.

Self-Paced JavaScript Classes

You may have also considered enrolling in an online JavaScript class but found it challenging to find one that meets the needs of your schedule. If that’s the case, then a self-paced JavaScript course might be your answer. Noble Desktop offers a free, self-paced JavaScript class that can provide you with an excellent introduction to this programming language.

In this on-demand class, you’ll get a basic overview of JavaScript and learn about popular JavaScript libraries and frameworks. This includes the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js). This seminar also discusses the difference between client-side and server-side JavaScript.

In addition to the resources offered by Noble, you can find on-demand classes on sites like Udemy and Coursera. However, remember that some of these classes require a nominal fee or operate on a subscription-based model.

Learn JavaScript with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers hands-on JavaScript training opportunities that meet the needs of various learning styles and scheduling considerations. Each of its courses features small class sizes so that you can receive individualized support from Noble’s expert instructors. This is the case whether you attend a class live online or in person at the school’s Manhattan campus. Noble Desktop also provides a free retake option for anyone who wants to complete the course again within one year of completion.

Its JavaScript Programming Bootcamp provides students with a foundation in using JavaScript. In particular, this course teaches about object-oriented programming, variables, functions, and data types, among many other topics. By the end of the class, students will know how to build web applications using JavaScript and be familiar with its libraries and frameworks. Before enrolling in this class, you should be comfortable coding with HTML and CSS.

Noble’s JavaScript Development Certificate takes JavaScript learning a bit further. In this course, students practice building web applications with JavaScript and learn how to use React, Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB to expand the versatility of this programming language. Additionally, students have the chance to apply their learning to specific projects and build up a portfolio that can be used when applying to jobs in the field.

You may also consider Noble’s Front End Web Development Certificate. This course teaches JavaScript in addition to HTML, CSS, and WordPress while providing experiential learning opportunities. Certificates at Noble Desktop also offer students individual career mentoring sessions to help them polish their resumes and portfolios, and give them tips on how to stand out in a competitive job market.

Key Takeaways

• JavaScript is a great programming language to learn if you want to add interactivity and dynamism to your websites and applications.
• If you’re excited to learn JavaScript, you can take advantage of free resources, including:
• JavaScript forums, like those found on GitHub Discussions and Reddit
• Noble Desktop’s free YouTube tutorials
• Self-paced JavaScript seminars provided by Noble Desktop
• After exploring free resources to learn JavaScript, you might consider enrolling in a more structured course, particularly if you’re trying to start a new career.