JavaScript for Beginners

Breni's JavaScript for Beginners path teaches the language itself: the syntax, data structures and asynchronous code that every framework and website relies on. Its 8 courses cover basics, control flow, functions, arrays and objects, classes, asynchronous JavaScript, modules and tooling, and small projects. Learners finish able to write clean functions, process data with map and filter, call APIs with async and await, and run code in browsers and Node.js. React builds on it later. Functions come before arrays and objects, because each course unlocks after the one before.

• 8 courses
• 5 learning objectives
• Level: beginner
• Language: English
• Price: Subscription, free trial

What you will be able to do

• Write functions, conditions and loops that solve small problems
• Transform arrays of data with map, filter and reduce
• Model data with objects and classes, using this correctly
• Fetch data from an API with async and await and handle errors
• Split a program into ES modules and install npm packages
• Build a working browser app and a Node.js command-line tool

Full curriculum

Part 1 · Language basics

1. JavaScript Basics: Your First Code

Write and run your first JavaScript in the browser and in Node.js. Units, in order: What JavaScript is used for; Running code in the console and Node.js; let, const and values; Strings, numbers and booleans; Type conversion and equality.

• — What JavaScript Does
  Learn what JavaScript does on the web.
  • Web Power
• — Running Code
  Run code in the browser and Node.js.
  • Console and Node
• — Variables and Values
  Store data using let and const.
  • Using Let and Const
• — Basic Data Types
  Work with strings, numbers, and booleans.
  • Text and Numbers
• — Types and Equality
  Convert types and check equal values.
  • Type Conversion and Equality

2. Control Flow in JavaScript

Control which code runs with conditions and loops. Units, in order: if, else and the ternary operator; switch statements; for and while loops; Truthy and falsy values; Breaking out of loops.

3. JavaScript Functions

Write reusable functions and predict which variables each one can see. Units, in order: Function declarations and expressions; Arrow functions; Parameters, defaults and return values; Scope and hoisting; Closures.

Part 2 · Working with data

4. Arrays and Objects

Store and transform collections of data. Units, in order: Arrays and their methods; map, filter and reduce; Objects and properties; Destructuring and spread; JSON.

5. Objects, Classes and this

Model things in code with objects and classes. Units, in order: Methods and the this keyword; Prototypes; Classes and constructors; Inheritance; Getters and setters.

Part 3 · Real JavaScript

6. Asynchronous JavaScript

Write code that waits for timers, files and network requests. Units, in order: The event loop; Callbacks; Promises; async and await; Fetching data from an API.

7. Modules, Errors and Tooling

Organise code into modules and handle errors cleanly. Units, in order: ES modules: import and export; try, catch and throwing errors; npm packages; Debugging with breakpoints; Writing simple tests.

8. JavaScript Projects

Build small programs that use everything in the path. Units, in order: A to-do list in the browser; A quiz game; A weather app using an API; A command-line tool in Node.js; Choosing what to learn next: React or Node.js.

Sample: JavaScript Basics: Your First Code

The opening tier, (What JavaScript Does). Learn what JavaScript does on the web.

Web Power

Understand how JavaScript makes web pages interactive and dynamic.

Questions about JavaScript for Beginners

How long does it take to learn JavaScript?

The basics take a few weeks of steady practice, and fluency takes longer. Breni lessons take about three minutes each, so the 8 courses fit into short sessions.

Should I learn HTML and CSS before JavaScript?

Not for this path, which focuses on the language and runs much of its code outside a web page. Web Development for Beginners covers HTML and CSS.

Is JavaScript good for beginners?

Yes. It runs in every browser with nothing to install, and you see results straight away.

Should I learn JavaScript before React?

Yes. React is built on JavaScript, and the React for Beginners path assumes you know functions, arrays, objects and modules.

Do I get a certificate in JavaScript?

Completing all 8 courses earns a Breni certificate of completion, which shows you finished the path.

Related learning paths

• C++ for Beginners
• Java for Beginners
• Cyber Security for Beginners
• Cloud Computing and AWS
• UI/UX Design for Beginners
• Data Analysis for Beginners
• React for Beginners
• AI for Beginners
• Learn to Code

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