Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Coursera

JavaScript Basics for Beginners

via Coursera

Overview

AI, Data Science & Cloud Certificates from Google, IBM & Meta — 50% Off
One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera. 50% off Coursera Plus Annual for 10 days only — price increases June 17.
Unlock All Certificates
JavaScript is the language behind nearly every interactive experience on the web, and the gap between knowing it exists and being able to use it confidently is smaller than most people think. This course closes that gap, giving you a practical, hands-on foundation so you can stop watching others build and start building yourself. You'll set up a live coding environment, write variables, operators, conditionals, loops, and functions from scratch, and apply each concept through exercises in Replit. You'll then create and test algorithms, pull in open-source packages from NPM and GitHub, and combine JavaScript with HTML and CSS to render a real, styled web page complete with an interactive game you built yourself. By the end of this course, you'll be able to write functional JavaScript programs, use external libraries to extend your code, and build and deploy a complete interactive web page.

Syllabus

  • Storing and Computing Data with Variables and Operators
    • Every piece of dynamic behaviour on the web starts with data: naming it, storing it, and computing relationships between values. In this module, you'll define and assign the six core JavaScript data types using variables, then use mathematical and comparative operators to perform calculations and comparisons on that data.
  • Directing Code Execution with Conditionals and Loops
    • Code that only runs in a straight line can't make decisions or handle changing inputs. In this module, you'll write IF and switch conditional blocks to route your program based on specific conditions, then build FOR and WHILE loops to automate repetitive actions so your code can do more with less.
  • Structuring Code with Functions, Scope, and Recursion
    • Functions are how programmers package logic so it can be named, reused, and reasoned about in isolation. In this module, you'll define and call functions, control where variables can be accessed using scope and closure, and build recursive functions that solve problems by calling themselves, so your code can handle complexity without becoming unmanageable.
  • Creating and Testing JavaScript Algorithms
    • Writing code without a plan is how bugs get written instead of solutions. In this module, you'll apply a structured framework to deconstruct algorithm prompts into inputs, outputs, goals, conditions, and exceptions, then build test functions to verify that your algorithms produce the results you intended.
  • Using NPM Packages and Open-Source Resources
    • One of the most powerful habits a developer can build is reaching for existing, well-maintained code before writing their own. In this module, you'll navigate the NPM registry to find, install, and use third-party packages in a JavaScript project, then explore GitHub repositories to evaluate open-source libraries and find code you can use and build on.
  • Building Interactive Web Pages and Games
    • JavaScript alone can tell a computer what to do, but HTML and CSS are what make it visible and usable on screen. In this module, you'll combine all three languages to render a styled, interactive web page from scratch, then apply everything you've built in the course to create a fully playable browser game.
  • Continuing Your JavaScript Journey
    • Finishing a course is a beginning, not an end. Now, you'll consolidate what you've built across this course, identify the resources and communities that will carry your JavaScript skills further, and commit to a concrete next step in your development practice.

Taught by

Madecraft

Reviews

Start your review of JavaScript Basics for Beginners

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.