KAKhan Academy · on Khan Academy

Intro to Computer Programming

4.7(5,100)·3.1M enrolled

Beginner 15 hours English Completion CertificateFREE

About this course

Khan Academy's Intro to Computer Programming uses JavaScript and a visual drawing canvas to teach programming fundamentals — variables, functions, loops, and conditionals — in a way that gives immediate visual feedback, making it especially effective for complete beginners, including younger learners. Rather than abstract console output, students see their code directly produce drawings and simple animations.

It's intentionally simpler and slower-paced than career-focused programming courses elsewhere in this catalog, making it a strong true first step for anyone unsure whether programming is for them, or for parents looking for a free, reputable resource for younger learners. Graduates typically move on to more structured, job-focused courses like freeCodeCamp's certifications once they've confirmed an interest in coding.

What you'll learn

Understand core programming concepts: variables, functions, loops

Write and debug simple JavaScript programs

Use conditionals to control program logic

Build simple visual programs using a drawing canvas

This course includes

15h

On-demand video

Yes

Mobile access

English

Language

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Instructor

Khan Academy

Khan Academy instructor

3.1M+ learners60 courses4.7 instructor rating

Produced by Khan Academy, a nonprofit educational organization whose computer programming curriculum has introduced millions of beginners, including school-age students, to coding fundamentals.

Requirements

No prior programming or technical experience required

Who this course is for

Complete beginners unsure whether programming is right for them
Younger learners (teens) getting their first coding exposure
Parents and educators looking for a free, trusted intro resource

About this provider

Khan Academy

Non-profit free education platform. World-class education for anyone, anywhere.

Visit Khan Academy →

Frequently asked questions

It's accessible to any age — the visual, immediate-feedback teaching style happens to work especially well for younger learners, but adults with zero coding background benefit from the same approach.

Move on to a more structured, job-focused programming course — freeCodeCamp's certifications or a language-specific course depending on your goals (web development, data science, etc.).

Yes, the underlying concepts (variables, loops, functions, conditionals) are universal programming fundamentals that transfer to any language — the visual canvas is just a teaching device for immediate feedback.