A Comprehensive Guide on How to Learn Javascript

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Updated on October 16, 2023

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If you want to learn JavaScript, paid coding bootcamps aren’t the only option. You can also learn this popular programming language through free self-paced courses, videos or books.

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Like English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, or Arabic, JavaScript is a digital lingua franca.

What does that mean? If you understand JavaScript, you can work with digital technologies on a global scale. That’s because more than 95% of websites worldwide use the JavaScript programming language. JavaScript is often stacked with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Together, these languages are the building blocks of apps and websites.

If you’re interested in how to learn JavaScript, you can do it in free or paid bootcamps. You can also choose self-paced virtual learning, books, or YouTube videos. With a bootcamp, you could be proficient in JavaScript in 8-12 weeks. Keep reading to learn which one of these options might work for you.

Coding Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps provide an intensive learning experience that prepares students for entry-level jobs in their area of interest in just a few short months. You can take a coding bootcamp online or in person, and many programs offer full-time and part-time options. Some are self-paced, but many online coding bootcamps offer live virtual classes where all students log in simultaneously for a shared learning experience.

Although bootcamps dedicated specifically to JavaScript may be hard to find, many web development and software engineering bootcamps include JavaScript as part of the curriculum. Coding bootcamps provide a great option for students who want to enter the workforce without attending school for 2-4 years.

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Online Courses

Online courses offer another alternative for those who want to avoid attending college or a coding bootcamp. Most of these courses are self-directed so that you can learn at your own pace. Many are offered free of charge. Additionally, paid online courses typically cost much less than coding bootcamps. And most online courses require only a few hours per week of work. They are a great option for those who don’t have the time or money to enroll in a full coding bootcamp.

JavaScript for Beginners Specialization: The University of California, Davis offers this specialization through Coursera. Students learn to work with a code editor, control structures, and loops. They explore core programming structures and learn how to use the jQuery library. There is a seven-day free trial. Students who continue after the trial must pay $49 per month. There are also financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
The Complete JavaScript Course 2022: Udemy offers a modern JavaScript course that includes theory, challenges, and projects. Students learn about JavaScript fundamentals, such as objects, arrays, functions, operators, and Boolean logic. They complete six portfolio-worthy projects during the course. This course costs $149.99 for lifetime access, or you can access it through a Udemy subscription for $29.99 per month.
JavaScript Introduction: This free course — offered through edX — is included in W3C’s front-end web developer professional certificate. The five-week course requires about 6-8 hours per week to complete. Students learn to integrate JavaScript code into their websites, use the DOM API, and make basic animations and graphics.
Learn JavaScript: Codecademy offers a beginning JavaScript course that teaches object-oriented programming using JavaScript. The course takes approximately 20 hours to complete. After finishing the program, you can move on to Codecademy’s intermediate JavaScript course. The course itself is free. However, if you want a certificate of completion, you’ll have to upgrade to Codecademy Pro.
JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures: The second module in freeCodeCamp‘s program covers JavaScript algorithms and data structures. This free course introduces JavaScript fundamentals and teaches students object-oriented and functional programming. FreeCodeCamp recommends completing the modules in order, starting with responsive web design, although this is not a requirement.

Online Courses vs. Bootcamps

Coding Bootcamp Pros and Cons

Pros

Bootcamp instructors typically engage with their students, answering questions as they arise.
You’ll gain experience working in pairs or teams, a necessary skill for many jobs.
Bootcamps quickly prepare you for a job by focusing on the skills employers want and need.

Cons

Bootcamps typically cost much more than online courses.
If the bootcamp is in person, you’ll have to commute.
Since the cost is higher, the risk is higher as well. Some bootcamps are better than others at placing graduates in jobs.

Coding Course Pros and Cons

Pros

Online courses offer some of the cheapest ways to learn JavaScript — in fact, many are free.
Most online courses take only a few weeks to complete.
Most online courses are self-paced, so you can go through them as quickly as you want.

Cons

There may not be a teacher available to ask for help.
In most cases, you’ll have to pay extra if you want a certificate proving you completed the course.
By learning JavaScript in isolation, you may miss out on learning how to integrate it with HTML and CSS in a website, as you would learn in a web development bootcamp.

Coding Bootcamps to Learn JavaScript

Methodology

Bootcamp Ranking Guidelines

At BestColleges, we believe the best bootcamp is the one that fits your schedule, your learning needs, and your career aspirations. That's why we often present our recommendations in alphabetical order -- because the real best bootcamp is the bootcamp that's best for you.

Coding Dojo

Location: Remote
Starting at: $15,995
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time

Career Services
Evening & Weekend Options

Coding Dojo says its program covers more front and back-end technologies than any other full-stack bootcamp. In addition to JavaScript, you’ll learn about a dozen other languages and technologies — including SQL, Python, and AWS EC2 — over the course of 14 weeks.

You’ll also receive support and career guidance through interview prep, resume and portfolio development, and one-on-one career coaching. If you’re new to coding and aren’t sure if it’s for you, Coding Dojo also offers a free introductory class.

DevPoint Labs

Location: Remote
Starting at: $5,000
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Part-Time

Accepts GI Bill®
Career Services
Evening & Weekend Options

If you want to learn JavaScript and related coding tech, and you learn best through real-time, live instruction and feedback, DevPoint Labs might be a good choice. This program is 11 weeks long and requires up to 35 hours a week. Students learn through lectures and hands-on projects.

DevPoint Labs bootcamp also includes two hackathons. JavaScript and coding basics are key elements of the first four weeks of learning. Students who complete this bootcamp receive a certificate.

DigitalCrafts

Location: Remote
Starting at: $9,950
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time

Career Services
Evening & Weekend Options

If you’re new to coding, DigitalCrafts describes web development technologies by comparing them to cars. JavaScript, for example, is like a car’s engine, while HTML is the frame. Those are front-end technologies. In this bootcamp, you’ll also learn back-end technologies like Python. The full-time program takes 16 weeks, and the part-time program takes 26 weeks. DigitalCrafts also offers occasional elective workshops for students and alumni.

Tech Elevator

Location: Remote,Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Wilmington
Starting at: $16,500
Learning Format: In-Person, Online
Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time

Accepts GI Bill®
Career Services
CIRR Member
Evening & Weekend Options

Tech Elevator’s curriculum includes Java, JavaScript, SQL, HTML, and CSS. A typical day may include group or solo work, lectures, and hands-on practice. The full-time program is 14 weeks, and the part-time program is 30 weeks.

Eighty-six percent of graduates from Tech Elevator’s July-December 2021 Philadelphia cohort found a job within six months, according to information reported to the Council on Integrity Results Reporting. They earned a $70,000 median salary.

TrueCoders

Location: Remote
Starting at: $4,500
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time

Career Services
Evening & Weekend Options

TrueCoders offers a full-time live bootcamp program and a self-paced program. Both full-stack web development and software engineering programs are available. Both bootcamps cover coding essentials, including JavaScript, HTML, SQL, and CSS. The web development track adds Node.js and other languages, while the software engineering track adds C#. The full-time program is nine weeks, while most people finish the self-paced program in 3-6 months.

Get the Qualities You Want in a Bootcamp

We use icons to make browsing bootcamps easy for you. Use this breakdown to quickly identify program qualities you are looking for.

Accepts GI Bill®

Accepts the GI Bill® as funding for tuition.

Also Available In Person

This online bootcamp also offers in-person options.

Career Services

Offers career services to help you land your dream job after graduation.

CIRR Member

This bootcamp is a current member of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting. Learn more at cirr.org.

Evening & Weekend Options

Bootcamps are offered during convenient evening and weekend hours.

Job Guarantee

Employment is guaranteed as soon as you finish your bootcamp.

Money-Back Guarantee

Tuition is refunded if you don't land a job within a given time frame after graduation. Visit the bootcamp website for terms and conditions.

Start for Free

No deposit is required to get started. Begin your bootcamp for $0.

What Are Other Methods You Can Learn JavaScript?

If you need more flexibility than a bootcamp offers, there are other ways to learn JavaScript:

Books

If you like reading, Amazon has dozens of highly-rated books on learning JavaScript. Here are three top-rated titles:

YouTube

If you like the flexibility of learning by video but don’t want to follow a structured program, check out YouTube. Choosing YouTube is a great way to learn JavaScript for free. Here are some of the most watched videos in late 2022 for “how to learn JavaScript”:

What JavaScript Concepts Will You Learn?

No matter where or how you learn JavaScript, you’ll focus on some universal skills and knowledge. If you want to work as a JavaScript developer, here are 10 things you should know, according to GitHub:

IIFE
Hoisting
Callbacks
Call Stack
Promises
Design Patterns
JavaScript Engines
Data Structures
Algorithms
Clean Code

JavaScript Jobs

Web Developer

Web developers create websites. Sometimes they work with graphic artists or designers, who determine how the website will look. A web developer brings the designer’s vision to life by converting the various elements of the webpage into code. Web developer is one of the most in-demand JavaScript jobs.

MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY (2021):$78,300

Computer Programmer

Computer programmers write the code that makes computer applications function properly. They use a variety of computer languages, such as C++, Java, Python, and JavaScript. Computer programmers test their programs to ensure they work properly and troubleshoot them if there are any problems.

MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY (2021):$93,000

Software Developer

Software developers talk to users to find out what they need and then design software to meet those needs. They decide what each part of the software program will do and how the pieces fit together. They create plans and diagrams to show programmers what the code needs to do.

MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY (2021):$109,020

What Are the Benefits of a JavaScript Certification?

Here are some benefits of a JavaScript certification:

A certification demonstrates that you can read, write, and program in JavaScript.
A certification can improve your performance in writing code.
There are free and paid certifications available.
You can earn a JavaScript certification for free through a virtual course.
A certification may help your resume stand out to employers.
You may have more job opportunities.
A certification may help you obtain a higher job title.
You can possibly leverage your certification to earn a higher salary.
Earning a JavaScript certification can expand your professional network.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning JavaScript

Is JavaScript easy to learn?

Most people find JavaScript easier to learn than other programming languages. It’s a good first language to learn if you’re new to coding. One reason is you can write JavaScript in fragments using a basic text editor. And after writing the code, you can test it in a web browser in real time.

How long does it take to learn JavaScript?

If you’re brand new to coding and choose to try and learn JavaScript on your own, it’ll probably take six to nine months. If you have some coding experience or want to learn faster, you can get proficient in about 3-4 months.

Can I teach myself JavaScript?

Yes, it’s possible to teach yourself JavaScript. However, you’ll probably find JavaScript easier to learn. While it’s a good beginner programming language, experienced coders say having an understanding of HTML or CSS is helpful. The reason is JavaScript, HTML, and CSS are often used together. Understanding other languages can help you learn and apply JavaScript coding more easily.

Where can I learn JavaScriptfor free?

An online search will return lots of free online JavaScript learning resources. Here are just five options:

The Modern JavaScript Tutorial has an active, supportive online community.
LearnJS focuses on JavaScript basics, like data structures and object-oriented programming.
Learn JavaScript, a Codecademy course, teaches JavaScript fundamentals in 20 hours.
JavaScript for Cats says JavaScript is so easy, you or your pets can learn it in two hours
Intro to JavaScript, a Udacity course, is good for beginners or anyone interested in a web development career. No prior experience is required.

What is the best way to learn JavaScript?

The best answer is it depends. If you’re disciplined and highly self-motivated when learning something new, or if you have some coding experience, free online-only self-paced courses or videos might work for you. But if you want or need more structure, support from instructors, or interaction with fellow learners, a paid bootcamp might be a better choice.

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