Coding, also called Programming, is giving a computer (or other electronic device) instructions that it follows. In other words, coding is how we “talk” to our computers and tell them what to do. We do that by giving the computer commands in a specific Coding Language.
We call the different ways of coding “languages”, but they’re not really the same as human languages like English or Spanish. Instead, people have made different “coding languages” to be able to do different kinds of things. For example, one language called HTML is used (along with another language called Javascript) to make web sites.
The language we will be working with, Python, was made to be simple to use and read, and be able to be used for nearly any purpose. This makes it a great place to begin learning coding, because Python is used everywhere from popular websites (like Youtube) to popular games (like Fortnight), and is even used on the International Space Station!
When you are coding, you are giving a set of instructions that are followed in order based on logic, in much the same way as a math problem is written on a calculator..
For example, if we want to add 2 and 3 (to get the answer of 5) on a calculator, we press:
$$ 2+3= $$
And then it shows us the answer: 5
Coding works this way, too. We say “if this happens, do that”, or “do this, then do this”.
For example, if you’re making an app for a phone, you might say “if the person using our app taps a certain thing on the screen, then do something”. What that something is - and what it looks like - is up to you! All you need to know is the correct way to do it.
We call the correct way to write code in a certain coding language the “syntax” of that coding language. Understanding this syntax is key to learning how to code. You can learn about the syntax of a specific language by reading about it, or following tutorials or videos online.
But how do we actually use it? Where do we put the code to make it work?
There are many different ways of coding, depending on what language you’re coding in, and what app or program you are using to create the code. Generally, though, most ways of coding are one of two kinds: Block-based coding and Text-based coding.
An example of Block-based Coding
Block based coding is done by arranging shapes called Blocks, which represent simple instructions. These instructions either say what to do (like “Add 2+3” or “Draw a straight line”) or they say when or how to do it (like “Do this every 5 minuites” or “If this happens, then do this”). You use your mouse (or finger on a touchscreen) to arrange the blocks into the correct order to accomplish what you want to happen.
If you’d like to try block-based coding, here are some examples: