Learn JavaScript — An Ordered Path for Beginners

This is the order to read our JavaScript guides in. It assumes no prior programming experience, though what is programming is a useful ten minutes first.

You need nothing installed. JavaScript already runs in the browser you are reading this in.

1. Get oriented#

• JavaScript for beginners: how it actually works
• Browser DevTools for beginners — where you will run your first code

2. The language basics#

• Variables: let, const and var
• Functions and arrow syntax
• Arrays, including map, filter and reduce
• Objects

3. Making pages do things#

• DOM basics — changing a web page
• Events — reacting to clicks and typing

4. Working with data from elsewhere#

• Async and await explained
• The Fetch API

5. When it breaks#

• Common JavaScript errors and what they mean
• How to debug JavaScript in the browser

6. Build something#

• To-do list in the browser — the DOM, events and saved data
• Quiz app — managing state and rendering screens
• Portfolio page — HTML and CSS practice

You will also need HTML and CSS#

JavaScript changes a page; HTML and CSS make the page in the first place.

• HTML basics explained
• CSS basics explained
• Responsive design basics

What about React?#

Later. React assumes you are comfortable with functions, arrays, objects and the DOM. Learning it before those are solid is the most reliable way to get stuck — every error becomes a mystery because you cannot tell whether it is React or JavaScript.

Finish the projects above first. React then takes a couple of weeks rather than a couple of months.

BeginJavaScript for beginners: start here