Coding has now become a literacy for the 21st century. Many companies have started demanding their employees to know at least the basics and fundamentals of coding.

With that, here is a quick overview of what it is and why it is important.

What is Coding?

The basic definition of coding is the process of writing a programming language that a computer can understand.

It is important to remember that coding and programming are two very different things. Although a lot of people often use these two terms interchangeably, you need to keep in mind that these signify two different things.

Coding is the process of writing codes for your computer. This means that you can be proficient in many coding languages such as Python, C, Java, Ruby, Lua, and others. Programming, on the other hand, is the process of developing a program from the ground up. This means that instead of just focusing on writing lines of codes, a programmer is also the one in charge of planning, designing, testing, maintaining, and even debugging the program/application.

What is Coding used for?

As mentioned before, coders use a wide variety of programming languages. These languages have different functions and usability.

For instance, building a website requires both front-end developers and back-end developers. These two types of developers have different functions and they code in different languages as well.

• Since front-end developers are in charge of the layout and function of the website, they need to be proficient in coding languages like HTML, CSS, or Javascript.
• As for back-end developers, they are the ones who handle the server-side integration and web application logic.  This means that they need to master languages like Python, C#, Swift, PHP, and others.

Learning Coding

Whether you plan to be a coder, programmer or developer in the future, you still need to learn coding and master at least one language.

Luckily, starting your learning journey is not that difficult these days. There are tons of ways to learn coding from the comfort of your own home. Here are a few options that you can try:

Degree Programs

Colleges and even ivy league universities now offer degree programs for computer science. These degree programs, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, can be easily taken and completed online. And since these learning programs are offered by accredited schools, you can even receive that same diploma like their on-campus students.

Online Courses

If you do not feel like completing an entire degree, then you can simply take a few coding classes online. Sites like edX and Coursera have a great selection of courses made by accredited universities like MIT and Harvard. What makes these platforms great for online learning is that you can cherry-pick only the classes that pique your interest. For instance, if you want to learn how to create Apple programs, then you can just simply take courses on Swift language.

Self-Study

Should none of the above appeal to you, then you can simply gather your learning resources and study at your own pace. Nowadays, you can teach yourself how to code even without enrolling in any online learning programs. There are tons of learning resources freely available online and practice projects that you can do on your own.

Overall, learning how to code has become much easier and accessible today. In fact, even kids are now starting to learn coding at a young age. There are now tons of gamified learning programs that use Minecraft coding and Roblox studios to make the learning a lot more fun and easier for kids.  

Careers in Coding

One of the upsides of knowing how to code is that you can be very flexible due to the influx of demand for your skill.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs that require coding skills such as software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers are projected to grow by 22 percent for the next 10 years. The median annual pay for these roles was $110,140 in May 2020.

And with coding being the new literacy, almost every business now requires technology. That said, your expertise in coding would be relevant in any industry today.

All in all, coding is not just a skill for people in tech and IT. It has also become an important skill that would be relevant across industries for many years to come.

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IPWITHEASE

IPwithease is aimed at sharing knowledge across varied domains like Network, Security, Virtualization, Software, Wireless, etc.