If you plan to move into the field of software development or simply enjoy coding for the love of it, you should learn computer programming. Programming teaches us to focus, think, solve problems in a logical way, and test our ideas. In the digital world where computers have overtaken our daily tasks, computer programming has emerged as one of the most sought after professions. The fact that computer programming is not easy to learn makes it an ideal choice for those with clear logic.

To start learning computer programming online, you need to choose a language relevant to your requirement. Go for C, C++, and related languages for creating standalone computer apps, Java or JavaScript for making web plugins and mobile applications, or PHP for server side programming; the list is endless. There are a host of programming languages to choose from.

To learn a language, you can either go to a school or learn it online. With many universities and educational platforms offering resources and tools to learn computer programming online, one is spoilt for choice.

If you prefer face-to-face interaction, and a live instructor or professor, consider joining an intensive university or a college program. Local universities and colleges offer useful resources for programming skills. However, these courses might not be free.

In an online academy, a student learns at his/her own pace. Students are provided with online course material, practice exercises, online books for learning, helpful videos, and online tutorials by experts. In addition, project-based learning helps the student keep track of course progress, complete assignment-related tasks, and get online feedback. Free online tools like Mozilla’s Developer Network and Google’s University Consortium can also be used.

If you are new to the field of computer programming, you should consider trying the online programming videos on YouTube and free online books for download that teaches you programming from scratch. These can also be used for reference. Many universities offer structured courses. These online courses may have a fee, or provided free of charge. Some of the most popular online academies that offer free online courses are Codecademy, LearnStreet, Code Avengers, Udacity, and Khan Academy.

The trick to effectively learn computer programming online is constant motivation. You need to keep learning and trying your hands in different sets of programming languages. Once you are familiar with one language, move on to the next more complicated one. Remember to practice a lot, and try to keep up with the latest trends in the world of programming.

Happy coding!