What’s the best way to start learning programming?

Python is a solid first choice because the syntax is relatively approachable and you can run small programs quickly. Start with variables, conditionals, loops, functions, lists, dictionaries, and basic data structures. Then practice by building tiny projects such as a number-guessing game, calculator, or simple text adventure.

The most important thing is to start writing code instead of waiting until you feel ready. Follow a beginner course or tutorial, but spend most of your time solving small exercises yourself. When you get stuck, break the problem into smaller steps and test each step separately.

C or C# can also be useful, especially if you want to understand lower-level programming or eventually work with certain kinds of software. However, they may introduce extra complexity for a beginner. Python is usually a smoother starting point, and you can learn concepts like memory management and pointers later if your goals require them.

HTML and CSS are worth learning if you’re interested in websites, but they’re markup and styling languages rather than general-purpose programming languages. You could learn them alongside Python, but don’t try to study too many technologies at once. Pick one main language and build a few small, complete projects.