HTML vs CSS vs JavaScript: What Should Beginners Learn First?

 
When starting out web development, you’re likely to come across 3 main languages that are essential. Guides will tell you to learn HTML, CSS and JavaScript, but few explain HTML vs CSS vs JavaScript or where to begin. You’ll also find conflicting information in forums and videos. Leaving you feeling overwhelmed and many will give up before even writing any code.

There really is nothing complicated about it. Start with HTML, then CSS and finally JavaScript. This means you can keep it simple and have something visible after your first day. This post will show you exactly what to do to stop you guessing. By the end of this post you’ll know the order to learn them in, why and how to begin.

HTML vs CSS vs JavaScript: How They Work Together

A website works similarly to a house. HTML is the structure of the house. This tells us what we are going have on our page. CSS is the decoration. This will tell us everything about the colors, sizing and spacing. JavaScript is similar to the electrics and plumbing. This will allow us to interact with our website. Whilst we can create a house without any decoration or electrics most people wouldn’t want to live in it!

Most guides will tell you HTML is the structure, CSS is the styling and JavaScript is the interaction. As each layer relies on the previous layer we need to learn them in order. All websites you visit (big or small) are created using these 3 components.

A common example you may be familiar with is a sign up form. The HTML will create the text boxes for your name and email and the submit button. The CSS will style the form making it look neat with clear labels and good spacing. The JavaScript will ensure your email is a valid email before sending the form. Each part only has one role to play creating a trustworthy form.

Some people will tell you that HTML isn’t a real programming language. This is true as there are no variables, conditions, or loops. This doesn’t mean it isn’t useful though, it’s just a different skill. Knowing this will help to relieve some pressure and shows why HTML is a great place to begin.

Why You Should Learn HTML First

You will get the quickest results in HTML. All you have to do is add some short HTML tags (this is just short labels for different parts of the page). You will also instantly see your progress by opening the HTML file in an internet browser. If you decide to change a tag you can quickly refresh the internet browser and see how your page has changed with your new tag. This gives you a confidence boost as the rest of the tools are all new.

You will create a page in an afternoon showing that web development is a skill you can learn. All you need is a text editor and internet browser which are both free. Most mistakes within HTML are forgiven by the browser meaning that you rarely run into issues.

In HTML vs CSS vs JavaScript, everything relies on HTML. If you skip this part then there is nothing to create. CSS is used to style the HTML elements and JavaScript is used to add the functionality, read and manipulate the elements. With consistent practice you will get to grips with the basics of HTML and CSS in around 2-3 weeks. Many surveys show that HTML and CSS are the most popular to learn. This means you’re going down the same route as most people. In your beginning weeks, focus on creating headings, links, images, lists and forms. This will cover most basic pages.

Why CSS Comes Second

Once you have some content on your page, you will want to make it look nice. This gives a great reason to learn CSS. As we have a clear reason, some of the harder aspects of CSS become easier. We start by learning how to style our page with colours, fonts and spacing. Colors are the easiest way to begin styling a page and can be very rewarding. Spacing is often an underestimated aspect and it can be hard to read when there isn’t enough.

 The next part is the layout. Layout involves organizing the different sections of a page using rows and columns. There are two main tools used in CSS for layout: Flexbox and Grid. Try to learn one at a time and apply it to a small page.

CSS can seem quite straightforward but can be frustrating for a beginner. The layouts can be unpredictable. Changing a small amount of code in one area can cause a box to move elsewhere on your page. This is totally normal and does not mean you are doing anything wrong. You can view the CSS of any page in your browser, this helps you to identify where the issue is coming from.

Apply your styles to the HTML page you created earlier. It is very rewarding to see your plain page transform into a clean design. Responsive design should also be included here. This makes your page look good on phones. Most people will view your page using their phone so if it doesn’t look good on phones you will lose a lot of readers.

Why JavaScript Should Come Last

JavaScript is a proper programming language, meaning there are more concepts to grasp. With HTML and CSS being descriptive, JavaScript is imperative. Variables allow storage of values. Functions group actions together, Conditions allow selection and loops allow repetition. Due to this JS can be more challenging. However knowing what your page looks like will help. If you know HTML and CSS already, you’ll know what the code is doing.

The JavaScript part of HTML vs CSS vs JavaScript can take around 2-5 months to gain a basic understanding. This is just an estimation though, depending on how fast the person can learn. You’ll also have to read error messages which can be confusing to start with.

Some concepts can be challenging for almost everyone. Asynchronous code is a common one. This is where you initiate an action (such as loading data) and then deal with the outcome later. Starting with the basics will give you a solid base to work from. Starting off with simple actions, such as changing the text in a heading when a button is pressed.

Frameworks are pre-built toolkits that sit on top of basic JavaScript. Learn the platform first and then the toolkits. React and Vue will come after basic JavaScript. If someone starts with a framework, they won’t know where the line is between the framework and JavaScript.

Some may argue that starting with a general language will teach the basics of logic first. This does make sense if you want to create a variety of software. However, if your goal is to create websites then starting with HTML will give you a visible outcome quicker.

Where to Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Both free and paid resources will work, but it depends on your learning style. Some people prefer reading, others watching videos and some like to type out code. The free lessons will give you all the basics that you need. However, if you feel like a more structured approach would help, you can always pay for a course. You’ll get feedback from the teachers and your learning will become more structured. If you’re unsure which to go for, take a look at our guide to the best programming tutorials. We compare free courses, YouTube channels and coding sites. MDN Web Docs is a great resource that beginners often come back to. Whichever option you pick, you should aim to do short practice sessions every day so that you get better quicker. Choose one resource and complete it. Then use your new knowledge to create something.

Conclusion

Here is the answer in one line: structure with HTML, style with CSS, and behavior with JavaScript. Learning HTML vs CSS vs JavaScript in this order keeps each step small enough to finish. Each part will help you progress onto the next. You may feel like you’re making little progress but by taking your time and working through each part you will develop real skills. The main aim is to create something. Even if it’s a basic page, you’ve proven you can do it! You don’t need to know everything to start. Open up a new file today and start creating your first basic page!