What are the Benefits of Learning How to Code?

Many people make the mistake of thinking that coding is not a viable option for them, and something that only computer science graduates or tech geeks know how to do. However, there are lots of benefits to learning to code, and it can be a really exciting process. Whether you want to get into a career in IT in the future or are simply considering learning a new skill, learning to code can have lots of professional and personal benefits to consider. Some of the top benefits of learning to code include:

Build Your Own Website

Whether you want to start your own business in the future or have a brand idea that you’d like to share with the world, one of the best ways to do this is with your own website. And when you know how to code, you can build it yourself exactly how you want it, without the need to pay a developer to do it for you. To build your own website, you will need to learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. CSS in particular is a very crucial language to know if you want to get into web development. If you’re interested in coding for web development, learning these three languages not only gives you the chance to build your own websites from scratch whenever you like, but will also offer a wide range of employment and freelance opportunities to consider. 

Take Your IT Career to the Next Level

Many technology jobs today involve support roles, but unfortunately, this can leave IT professionals feeling bored and burned out from repeating mundane tasks. Learning a programming language can be one of the best ways to take your career to the next level if you are currently working in an IT support role and want to move up into a different area of IT such as cybersecurity or software development. When you learn to code, you’ll not only have a skill that is in high demand in your industry, but you will also find it easier to get the qualifications that you need to boost your career such as the best online computer science master’s degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Get a Better Understanding of Computers

One of the biggest benefits of learning how to code for anybody is that it gives you the chance to learn more about computers and how they work. PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and websites all run on applications, and you will get a better understanding of how these applications work when you know how to code. You can then use your coding knowledge to make your life easier, such as creating scripts to automate daily tasks for yourself like sending emails. Another main benefit of knowing how to code is that when a new technology or software is released, you’ll likely learn how to use it faster.

Code

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Start Your Own Business

When you think of software and IT companies, the bigger companies like Apple and Microsoft probably come to mind. However, there are many small businesses in the IT industry, too. And, once you have learned to code and gained some experience creating software, there is nothing stopping you coming up with your own software program or SaaS solution to start your own business with. Even if you do not have a huge amount of experience, when you know how to code, you have the skills needed to lay the foundation for a new software company before working with more experienced developers to turn it into a reality. 

Develop Your Own Apps

Another great reason to learn how to code is that once you are fluent in a programming language that is used to build mobile and computer apps, you don’t need to wait around for somebody else to develop the type of app that you need; you can simply build it yourself! Along with building apps for your own personal use, you can also sell any apps that you think other people will also benefit from, making this a great business or side hustle idea too. There are endless ideas for the apps that you can develop once you know how to code, from fun games to apps that solve problems and help with productivity. 

It’s a Fun Hobby

Learning how to code doesn’t always need to be something that you do for your future career or for starting a business. Computer programming can also be a very fun hobby to take up, and there are lots of things that you can do with it in your spare time, like creating games for yourself and your family to play at home. Another benefit is that learning to code can also boost your social life; you can find social media groups, tech forums, and even local meetups for coders and programmers where you can meet like-minded people and make new friends. This could even be a fantastic new hobby for your kids, which could even turn into a future career for them. So if you think they’d be interested in the coding world, why not introduce them to coding classes for kids?

Develop a Skill You’ll Always Use

As technology develops and advances at a rapid rate, coding is one skill that is not going to become obsolete over time. As the world relies more and more on computers and technology to get things done, the need for programmers and people with coding skills is only growing. And the good thing about coding is that once you have learned and become fluent in one programming language, it becomes easier to learn another, and another. 

Start a Side Hustle

If you like the job that you are currently working in but want something to do to make some additional money on the side, learning how to code can provide you with the skills to do just that. Coding is a skill that you can definitely use as a freelancer to create custom apps, websites, or software programs for clients, or write apps for Android and iOS that you can upload to sell on the app store. Create an app that users pay a weekly or monthly subscription to use, and you can quickly start to develop a passive income for yourself. 

How to Get Started with Learning a Programming Language

Coding is one of the most in-demand skills right now, not just in the tech industry but around the world. As you can see, learning to code has tons of different benefits to consider whether you are thinking about coding as a hobby, want something that you can use to make some additional money on the side of your full-time career, or are seriously seeking to find a coding internship so as to boost your career in IT and tech. Coding is certainly one of the best skills for you to learn if you want to get into some of the most cutting-edge career options in the world today or work for some of the coolest technology companies.

Learning how to code can be challenging, but as you continue learning, it will get easier, and the challenge is certainly worth the rewards. Once you have mastered some basics of coding, you might be surprised as to just how much you actually know and what you are able to create. Learning how to code will provide you with an in-demand skill that’s not only relevant now but is likely to continue to be highly relevant well into the future. So, how do you get started with learning how to code?

Be Prepared

If you want to learn to code, then the first thing is to make sure that you are prepared for it. When you first start out, learning how to code is not always easy, because essentially, you are learning a new language. It’s going to be different from anything else that you have experienced if you are totally new to coding, so make sure that you’re aware of what to expect from the challenge and prepared to take it on. 

Choosing the Best Programming Language for You

Choosing the best programming language for you is the first step once you’ve prepared yourself for the challenge. Most people who are completely new to coding will start out with learning an easier language, before moving onto the more challenging ones once this is mastered. HTML and CSS are some of the most popular options for beginners as these are the most commonly used programming languages for basic web development. Python is another great choice if you are interested in developing apps and software as it is versatile and easy to learn. 

Refresh Your Computer Science Knowledge

When you’re learning to code for the first time, the entire process can easily become overwhelming. It’s a good idea to spend some time refreshing your computer science knowledge, even if you have a basic understanding of how computer systems and networks work. There are plenty of resources that you can use to learn more about computer science or refresh your knowledge. If you haven’t done any learning for a while, you will definitely benefit from taking a refresher course as the world of IT and technology is always changing. 

What Are Some Good First Programming Languages for Beginners?

Choosing the right programming language to start off with is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make, and with so many options to consider, it can be quite challenging. For your first programming language, it’s usually recommended to choose from one of these three:

HTML: If you are completely new to coding and have never done any web development, this is one of the best options to consider starting out with. While it’s technically not a programming language, HTML or Hypertext Markup Language makes up the basics of every website out there and is essential to know if you are interested in any sort of web development in the future. It’s a very basic language and there is not a lot that you can do with it;however, mastering this language will not only help you understand the fundamentals of web development but will also provide you with skills that you can build on in the future when learning more complicated language options. 

CSS: CSS is one of the most important programming languages to learn if you are interested in developing websites. It is more complicated compared to HTML and offers many more features when it comes to what you can add to a website that you are developing. Learning HTML and CSS will provide you with the skills that you need to start developing basic websites, so it’s no surprise that these are the two most highly recommended programming languages by experts when it comes to what beginners should start off with. You can write HTML code and then use CSS to make it look really good online, with the option to add features like margins, font changes, different colors, gradients, padding, and more. 

JavaScript: Once you have mastered HTML and CSS, it’s a good idea to move on to JavaScript, which is the next best choice of programming language for anybody who is interested in developing websites. JavaScript will be necessary for you to learn if you want to start coding to a more professional level or start developing basic apps. This programming language has a wide range of applications so it’s no surprise that it is an essential for the majority of coding professionals, since it’s hard to develop anything today without using some JavaScript. Because of this, it’s also one of the most in-demand programming languages, so if you are considering learning to code to boost your career or to start your own business developing websites, apps, or software, JavaScript can help you turn this into a reality. JavaScript developers earn an average of around $60k yearly, with plenty of opportunities to develop more advanced skills or master more programming languages to boost your salary even further. 

Learning to code isn’t just for computer nerds. Whether you want a new hobby that allows you to create things on your own time, are thinking of freelancing on the side of your full-time job or are serious about getting into a career in IT and technology, learning to code can be one of the best investments that you make in yourself. 

Osho Garg

About Author
Osho is Tech blogger. He contributes to the Blogging, Gadgets, Social Media and Tech News section on TecheHow.

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