What should a complete beginner learn first to get into web development?

A solid learning path is HTML first, then CSS, followed by JavaScript. Once you’re comfortable building basic pages, learn how web servers work, along with HTTPS/TLS, back-end programming, REST APIs, and databases such as SQL and NoSQL. Don’t rush through the basics—build small projects as you go, like a personal page, a form, or a simple interactive app. Later, learn basic project planning and version control.

The best path depends on your goal. If you only need a basic site for a small business or personal project, a drag-and-drop builder like Wix or Squarespace may be enough and requires little or no coding. Tools such as Bubble, Glide, or Retool offer more flexibility for applications while still minimizing hand-written code. If your goal is to become a software engineer, you’ll need to learn programming fundamentals, build projects, and create a portfolio; a computer science degree is one possible route, but it isn’t the only one.

freeCodeCamp is a good starting point because the lessons, exercises, and certifications are available at no cost. It gives you a structured path through the fundamentals and gradually introduces front-end and full-stack topics. A paid beginner course, such as a well-reviewed web development boot camp on a course platform, can also help if you prefer video lessons and a more guided progression.