I want to learn, where do I start?

[Natalie]

I want to learn more about web building, but where do I start?

Everything I’ve done up until now is self-taught, mainly through playing with the computer rather than really reading anything. I don’t have access to a computer around the year (studying, and don’t have a computer abroad) and so my progress is really slow. But now I want to learn more instead of just copying what I see without really knowing what I’m doing.

There’s so much: DHTML, Java scripts, CSS…etc. I don't even know what some of those mean or what they're for. where do I begin learning? Are there places on the internet that have good tutorials that can take u from one level to the other? Maybe even a book? What would u recommend?

[brit]

http://www.draac.com is a good place to start. They have some good scripts and html courses, and explain step by step. I am a complete beginner also, so I know how you feel:) I started off on marquee tags...; very basic, and always fun.

Good luck!

Brit

[Nightfire]

http://www.w3schools.com is a popular site in these forums

[bazz]

Originally posted by Natalie
I want to learn more about web building, but where do I start?

There’s so much: DHTML, Java scripts, CSS…etc. I don't even know what some of those mean or what they're for.

Want my words of wisdom? :p :rolleyes:

Dont worry about there being so many languages. There are many languages in the spoken world and we dont learn them all at one go - or did we?


I would suggest starting with html (the code that creates your page for the browser to view) and when you have got far enough, look at CSS, which controls where each piece sits on your page, (images, text etc).

JavaScript does all sorts of other useful things and I am not in a position to enlighten you on them all, but a small percentage (I hear) operate with JS turned off in their browsers so they won't get the benefits.

hth for starters.

bazz

[mlseim]

One of the very best learning tools is the ability to view the
HTML code on anybody's website. With IE, click 'View', then
mouse down to 'Source'.

You can learn a lot by looking at actual examples ... see how
the META tags are made, structure, different ideas people
have, etc.

--Max

[oracleguy]

Also take a look at the code used on the different sites in the examples of XHTML & CSS based sites thread (http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23475). They are excellent references since they use compliant XHTML and don't use tables for layout.

[Vladdy]

Originally posted by mlseim
One of the very best learning tools is the ability to view the
HTML code on anybody's website. With IE, click 'View', then
mouse down to 'Source'.


Since only one site out of hundred can actually be a good coding example, this will most probably result in learning how NOT to do it... :thumbsup:

[StupidRalph]

Originally posted by Nightfire
http://www.w3schools.com is a popular site in these forums

I must agree with Nightfire. I began taking these tutorials a few years ago and they are great. I would also suggest that you learn HTML 4.0 (which is what most ppl mean when they say HTML) first. Then progress to CSS as you will find some of its techniques useful in shortcutting a lot of HTML code.

Also you should give www.webmonkey.com a shot. They have tutorials but they read kind of like articles that will give you more insight of why you do certain things.

Final thought: Understand that web sites have a front end and back end. You'll realize what I mean once you begin coding. Just put that in the back of your head. :thumbsup:

[Natalie]

Thanks for the advice and addresses; I’ve looked at w3schools.com and like that one… I’ve searched other tutorial sites before and wasn’t too successful… but w3schools looks good. wonder if i'll progress, for a change :p

[liorean]

Hmm, lurking on a few mailing lists or these forums are actually a pretty good source for learning, though the best thing is to try to do something based on an idea you have and examples you find on hte net that do something similar, then ask for help if you can't get it to work.

Some things you simply can't do, but those are not abundant until you learn enough to go outside the actual capabilities of the technologies you're using.