Hi there! With JavaScript now ranking among the most in-demand and versatile programming languages worldwide, there‘s never been a better time to master JS development. As your personal guide, I‘m excited to showcase the top platforms for learning JavaScript in 2023.
Whether you‘re looking to pick up JavaScript for the first time or take your skills to the next level, this handbook outlines the best online courses, books, YouTube channels and other resources for becoming a confident JS developer. Let‘s get started!
The Case for Learning JavaScript
Before we dive into the where, let‘s explore the why: why learn JavaScript in 2023?
As I‘m sure you‘re aware, JavaScript has exploded in popularity in recent years. According to StackOverflow‘s 2022 survey, JavaScript ranks as the #1 most popular language among professional developers for 4 years running!
And JavaScript skills are in extremely high demand across industries. LinkedIn lists JavaScript in their top 10 hard skills companies need most – it‘s a great language to boost your career opportunities.
Beyond websites and web/mobile apps, JS is revolutionizing fields like IoT smart devices, ML data visualization, financial trading apps, game development, enterprise platforms and more!
By 2025, over 97% of all websites are forecast to use JavaScript in some form. So mastering JS is vital for any developer or IT pro in 2023.
Clearly JavaScript is a rewarding language to learn with tons of versatility. Now let‘s explore recommended places to start mastering it!
Learning JavaScript as a Beginner
If you‘re new to programming in general, I always recommend starting by getting to know some JavaScript basics:
- Core language features like variables, data types, functions, conditionals and loops
- Handling user input and output (alerts, console logging)
- Manipulating web page elements with DOM scripting
- Events, forms and browser compatibility
- Debugging errors and fixing bugs in your code
Once you have the fundamentals down, you can move onto building simple programs, games and web interfaces to apply your knowledge.
Now in terms of the best platforms for picking up these introductory skills, here are my top recommendations:
1. FreeCodeCamp
With hundreds of hours of free coding lessons and project-based curriculum, FreeCodeCamp is likely the most popular place for beginners to learn coding including JavaScript core skills.
Their self-paced courses teach JavaScript by building websites and apps – applying what you learn along the way. And it‘s 100% free – you just need access to a browser!
I suggest trying their Responsive Web Design Certification which includes 300 hours of JavaScript instruction. Finish all 5 web development projects to earn your free certificate!
2. Codecademy
Another leading free platform, Codecademy takes an interactive approach to learning JS. Instead of just watching videos, you‘ll write and execute code right inside the browser.
Their courses and tutorials range from absolute beginner topics like variables and data types through advanced tools like React and data visualization using D3 library.
I love how hands-on Codecademy‘s JavaScript instruction is. And they offer certificates upon completing courses, along with access to an online community of support.
After grasping JS basics here, I recommend upgrading to a paid "Pro" account which unlocks valuable perks like unlimited coding practice, graded projects and expert code reviews.
YouTube Tutorials
While quality varies widely, YouTube offers a trove of JavaScript video tutorials to supplement your online courses.
For absolute coding beginners, I recommend Dream Coder‘s highly engaging JavaScript Crash Course clocking around 3.5 hours.
Traversy Media and The Codeholic also provide excellent free JS tutorials worth checking out.
Once you have the basics down, YouTube becomes quite helpful for learning specific libraries like React, Vue and Three.js or frameworks like Node.js. Fun way to expand your skills!
Intermediate & Advanced JavaScript Learning
Now that you have fundamental language proficiency, let‘s level up your skills!
To go beyond coding basics, I‘d recommend exploring:
- Asynchronous JS and API calls
- ES6 syntax and modern features
- Node.js and backend JavaScript
- Popular JS frameworks like React, Vue, Angular
- Data visualization with Chart.js and D3
- JavaScript machine learning tools
Here are some stellar platforms for taking your JavaScript abilities to an expert level:
Udemy Paid Courses
With expert-led paid courses focused on current, advanced web development tools, I highly recommend Udemy for intermediate learners.
Look for highly-rated JavaScript and Node courses by top instructors like Andrei Neagoie, Jonas Schmedtmann and Stephen Grider.
Many classes focus on building modern web apps and high-traffic sites using cutting-edge stacks like React, GraphQL, TypeScript and MongoDB.
While pricier than free options, Udemy offers deep training from industry veterans. Especially valuable for mastering pro-level JS dev workflows.
Eloquent JavaScript Book
For those who prefer reading over video, Eloquent JavaScript remains among the most highly acclaimed books for mastering the language.
This rewarding 490+ page guide dives deep into sophisticated aspects of JavaScript like higher-order functions, objects, classes, promises and meta programming techniques.
Now in its 3rd edition from 2018, Eloquent JavaScript teaches current JS standards and best practices for expert-level coding. And the digital version is freely available online!
I reference this definitive book frequently as a professional JS developer – excellent for cementing advanced skills.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Whether you opt for books, online courses or video tutorials, the truth is that coding mastery comes down to hands-on work.
My advice is to challenge yourself by building personal projects that force you to problem-solve complex tasks with JavaScript.
Some ideas:
- Develop browser extensions, web apps and Node servers
- Automate tasks on your machine using JS scripts
- Build a dynamic dashboard pulling data from APIs
- Create mini-games with HTML Canvas and JavaScript
- Experiment with IoT devices like Arduino or Pi
Tackling substantive projects will grow your skills faster than any amount of passive tutorial consumption!
Stay motivated by joining JavaScript developer communities on Reddit, Discord and Slack too. Welcome any time to join my personal Discord group here.
Additional Recommended Resources
Here is a condensed list of other top-notch resources for mastering JavaScript:
Documentation
- Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) – Perhaps the internet‘s most comprehensive resource for JavaScript documentation and web technology reference.
- DevDocs – Quick API documentation search engine combining many sources like MDN, jQuery, React and more.
Online Learning
- Frontend Masters – Paid on-demand courses on JavaScript plus frameworks like React, Vue and Angular. Some free content available too.
- egghead.io – Bite-sized JavaScript video lessons tackling specific challenges. Focused on delivering quick wins.
- JavaScript.info– Excellent free JS tutorial reference running from beginner through advanced coder.
- freeCodeCamp – As mentioned earlier, fantastic free 300+ hour web development curriculum with tons of JS.
YouTube Channels
- Fun Fun Function – PlayfulJavaScript explainer videos with fun hosting from Mattias Petter Johansson.
- WebDevSimplified– Kyle Cook breaks down web development tutorials from basic CSS and JS to advanced frameworks.
Well, those represent my personal top recommendations for mastering JavaScript in 2023! Let me know if any questions pop up on your coding journey. Happy to offer 1-on-1 guidance as you level up your skills.
Speak soon and keep pushing your JavaScript abilities to new heights! Sincerely,
@yourtechguide
