Coding For Dummies, All New Edition
Your first step toward thinking like a coder

Coding For Dummies is one of the most popular get-started guides for new coders. This all- new edition demystifies essential coding concepts before diving into building simple apps in Python and JavaScript. For anyone brand-new to writing code, this book is an ideal first step, because you'll get an overview of how coding works, the essential tools of coding, and how to apply coding in different ways. Plus, you'll get insight into how new tools like AI can quickly boost your coding know-how. Enter the world of code with this easy-to-follow Dummies guide!

  • Learn the basics of coding, including key concepts you'll need in every coding language
  • Get a rundown of the most popular language, and start coding in JavaScript and Python
  • Follow step-by-step instructions to build your first apps
  • Discover how AI can help you become a better, faster coder

Looking for a foundation in the basics of coding, plus simple tasks to help you get started? Coding For Dummies is the book for you.

1147120748
Coding For Dummies, All New Edition
Your first step toward thinking like a coder

Coding For Dummies is one of the most popular get-started guides for new coders. This all- new edition demystifies essential coding concepts before diving into building simple apps in Python and JavaScript. For anyone brand-new to writing code, this book is an ideal first step, because you'll get an overview of how coding works, the essential tools of coding, and how to apply coding in different ways. Plus, you'll get insight into how new tools like AI can quickly boost your coding know-how. Enter the world of code with this easy-to-follow Dummies guide!

  • Learn the basics of coding, including key concepts you'll need in every coding language
  • Get a rundown of the most popular language, and start coding in JavaScript and Python
  • Follow step-by-step instructions to build your first apps
  • Discover how AI can help you become a better, faster coder

Looking for a foundation in the basics of coding, plus simple tasks to help you get started? Coding For Dummies is the book for you.

18.0 In Stock
Coding For Dummies, All New Edition

Coding For Dummies, All New Edition

by Paul McFedries
Coding For Dummies, All New Edition

Coding For Dummies, All New Edition

by Paul McFedries

eBook

$18.00 

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Overview

Your first step toward thinking like a coder

Coding For Dummies is one of the most popular get-started guides for new coders. This all- new edition demystifies essential coding concepts before diving into building simple apps in Python and JavaScript. For anyone brand-new to writing code, this book is an ideal first step, because you'll get an overview of how coding works, the essential tools of coding, and how to apply coding in different ways. Plus, you'll get insight into how new tools like AI can quickly boost your coding know-how. Enter the world of code with this easy-to-follow Dummies guide!

  • Learn the basics of coding, including key concepts you'll need in every coding language
  • Get a rundown of the most popular language, and start coding in JavaScript and Python
  • Follow step-by-step instructions to build your first apps
  • Discover how AI can help you become a better, faster coder

Looking for a foundation in the basics of coding, plus simple tasks to help you get started? Coding For Dummies is the book for you.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781394365579
Publisher: Wiley
Publication date: 09/24/2025
Sold by: JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format: eBook
Pages: 336
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Paul McFedries is an experienced programmer, tech expert, educator, and author. He’s spent a lifetime teaching complex technology topics to everyday people by focusing on straightforward, simple solutions and techniques. He’s the author of HTML, CSS, & JavaScript All-in-One For Dummies and Web Coding & Development All-in-One For Dummies.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 3

Part 1: Coding Basics 5

Chapter 1: What Is Coding? 7

Programming: Making a Computer Do Your Bidding 8

What Is a Programming Language? 9

The Role of Programming Languages 10

Understanding How Code Is Written and Executed 12

Why Learn to Code? Let Me Count the Ways 15

Real-World Uses of Coding 19

Chapter 2: Coding Concepts You Need to Know 23

Storing Stuff in Variables 24

Dealing with Data Types 27

Constructing Expressions 29

Making Decisions with Conditionals 33

Automating Repetitive Tasks with Loops 36

Organizing Code into Functions 38

Introducing Objects 41

Documenting Code with Comments 43

Debugging Code and Handling Errors 44

Chapter 3: Getting to Know Some Programming Languages 49

Ranking Programming Languages 50

Assembly: Close to the Machine 50

Python: No Experience Required 53

JavaScript: The Glue that Binds the Web 55

Sneaking a Peek at a Few Other Popular Languages 57

Grokking the Difference between Interpreted and Compiled Languages 68

Part 2: Learning Python: The Beginner-friendly Language 69

Chapter 4: Getting Started with Python 71

Getting to the Command Line 72

Installing Python 75

Running the Python Interpreter 80

Running Your First Python Program 84

Chapter 5: Getting Comfy with Some Python Fundamentals 89

Declaring Variables 90

Exploring Python Data Types 91

Constructing Expressions 93

Messing Around with Strings 97

Chapter 6: Storing Data and Controlling Your Code. 105

Storing Stuff in Lists 105

More Ways to Store Stuff: Tuples and Dictionaries 111

Conditionals in Python 115

Python Loops 119

Adding Comments to Your Code 123

Example: Build Your Own Survey Bot 123

Chapter 7: Reusing Code 127

Making Your Code More Efficient with Functions 128

Getting the Hang of Variable Scope 131

Avoiding Wheel Reinvention with Modules 134

Reuse Heaven: Installing External Libraries 141

Reusing Data by Writing and Reading Files 144

Example: Building a Quotations Archive 147

Chapter 8: Expanding Your Python Skills 153

Waxing Pythonic 154

Comprehending List Comprehensions 155

Introducing Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) 158

Working with APIs 165

Handling Program Errors 170

Debugging Your Code 174

Example: Cat Fact Cards 176

Chapter 9: Building Some Useful Python Projects 179

Project 1: Anagram Guessing Game 180

Project 2: Text Analyzer 193

Part 3: LEARNING JavaScript: THE LANGUAGE Of the Web 207

Chapter 10: Getting Your Feet Wet with JavaScript. 209

JavaScript: Controlling the Machine 210

What You Need to Get Started 211

Basic Script Construction 211

Adding Comments to Your Code 212

Creating External JavaScript Files 213

Getting to Know the Console 214

Chapter 11: Getting the Hang of a Few JavaScript Fundamentals 219

I Do Declare: Variables in JavaScript 220

Code Looping in JavaScript 221

Harnessing the Power of Functions 224

Getting the Hang of Variable Scope 227

Chapter 12: Tackling Some JavaScript Objects 231

Pulling Strings 231

Dealing with Dates and Times 236

Working with Numbers: The Math Object 240

Working with Arrays 244

Chapter 13: Unleashing JavaScript in the Browser 251

Getting to Know the Document Object Model 252

Specifying Elements 253

Traversing the DOM 257

Manipulating Elements 260

Modifying CSS with JavaScript 264

Building Reactive Pages with Events 267

Chapter 14: Debugging JavaScript 271

Examining Your Debugging Tools 272

Debugging with the Console Window 273

Pausing Your Code 275

Stepping Through Your Code 279

Chapter 15: Putting JavaScript to Work 283

Project 1: A Photo Gallery 284

Project 2: Get a Random Quotation from an API 286

Part 4: the Part of Tens 293

Chapter 16: Ten Things to Know about AI and Coding 295

Understanding How You Can Use AI 296

Learning What AI Can and Can’t Do 296

Crafting Effective Prompts 297

Learning to Code Using AI 298

Avoiding AI Dependency 298

Reviewing the Major AI Coding Tools 299

Vibe Coding Is Fun 300

Best Practices for Integrating AI 300

Avoiding Common Mistakes 301

Understanding Code Before Using It 301

Chapter 17: Ten Vital HTML Tags and CSS Properties 303

Ten HTML Tags You Need to Know 304

Ten CSS Properties to Memorize 306

Ten CSS Selectors to Swoon Over 308

Index 313

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