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Programming courses

Programming is a highly versatile skill, enabling you to dictate instructions to computer programs. DataCamp combines short video with extensive hands-on coding exercises, enabling anyone to master programming at speed.
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Recommended for Programming beginners

Build your Programming skills with interactive courses curated by real-world experts

course

Introduction to Python for Developers

BeginnerSkill Level
3 hours
5.2K
Master the fundamentals of programming in Python. No prior knowledge required!

track

Python Developer

28 hours
175
From testing code and implementing version control to web scraping and developing packages, take the next step in your Python developer journey!

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74 results

course

Introduction to Python

BeginnerSkill Level
4 hours
35.7K
Master the basics of data analysis with Python in just four hours. This online course will introduce the Python interface and explore popular packages.

course

Introduction to R

BeginnerSkill Level
4 hours
22.4K
Master the basics of data analysis in R, including vectors, lists, and data frames, and practice R with real data sets.

course

Intermediate Python

BeginnerSkill Level
4 hours
19.1K
Level up your data science skills by creating visualizations using Matplotlib and manipulating DataFrames with pandas.

course

Intermediate R

BeginnerSkill Level
6 hours
6.3K
Continue your journey to becoming an R ninja by learning about conditional statements, loops, and vector functions.

course

Introduction to the Tidyverse

BeginnerSkill Level
4 hours
8.4K
Get started on the path to exploring and visualizing your own data with the tidyverse, a powerful and popular collection of data science tools within R.

course

Introduction to Functions in Python

BeginnerSkill Level
3 hours
6K
Learn the art of writing your own functions in Python, as well as key concepts like scoping and error handling.

course

Python Toolbox

IntermediateSkill Level
4 hours
5.3K
Continue to build your modern Data Science skills by learning about iterators and list comprehensions.
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Related resources on Programming

blog

Introduction to Programming Paradigms

Explore the core concepts of major programming paradigms with Python examples, including object-oriented, functional, procedural, and declarative paradigms.
Samuel Shaibu's photo

Samuel Shaibu

12 min

blog

Will AI Replace Programming?

Will programmers disappear, or will their roles just be disrupted by the adoption of next-generation AI tools?
Javier Canales Luna's photo

Javier Canales Luna

8 min

tutorial

Functional Programming vs Object-Oriented Programming in Data Analysis

Explore two of the most commonly used programming paradigms in data science: object-oriented programming and functional programming.
Amberle McKee's photo

Amberle McKee

15 min


Ready to apply your skills?

Projects allow you to apply your knowledge to a wide range of datasets to solve real-world problems in your browser

project

Performing a Code Review

1 hour
2.7K
Review a data analysis workflow for adherence to Python standards and best-practices.

project

Cleaning Bank Marketing Campaign Data

0.5 hours
10.9K
Tidy a bank marketing campaign dataset by splitting it into subsets, updating values, converting data types, and storing it as multiple csv files.
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Frequently asked questions

What is programming?

Programming refers to a technological process for telling a computer which tasks to perform in order to solve problems. 

Programming is a collaboration between humans and computers in which humans create instructions for a computer to follow (code) in a language computers can understand.

Which Programming course is the best for absolute beginners?

Depending on which language you want to learn, anyone can take all introductory courses on DataCamp—no experience is required.

Python is the world’s most popular programming language and a great place to start for any aspiring data professional.

However, R, SQL, and Julia are other great leanguages you can start learning today.

Introduction to Python—universally used, simple to read, and accessible to learn

Introduction to R—powerful and  favored in specialized areas like statistical analysis and data visualization

Introduction to SQL—most popular for database management

Introduction to Julia—new and fast, ideal for scientific computing, machine learning, and data mining.

You can start coding today with interactive exercises.

How will programming help my career?

Knowing how to code makes you more adaptable, and a better problem solver, and gives you an in-demand, high-earning skill. 

Coders or computer programmers have the flexibility to choose the career path they want.

And, you don’t need a school or university, you can learn programming quickly online through platforms like DataCamp.

Starting from scratch? In 90 hours of study, you can go from zero to job-ready with our Associate Data Scientist in Python Career Track.

Do I need any prior experience to take a Programming course?

No, anyone can start programming instantly on DataCamp. 

Choose your language, and start from scratch at your own pace with interactive, expert-led exercises.

Which programming language should I learn?

Python is the world’s most popular programming language and a great place to start for any aspiring data professional. 

R is widely used in academic circles, especially for those focused on specialized areas like statistical analysis, data visualization, and research.  

SQL is the world’s most popular database management language. It is used extensively for data retrieval, insertion, updating, and deleting. This makes it a fundamental tool for data analysis, database management, and in various applications where data storage and query are essential.

Julia is a new and exciting programming language designed from its foundations to be the ideal language for scientific computing, machine learning, and data mining.

How long does it take to learn programming?

Each introductory course on DataCamp is between three to five hours, and requires no previous experience.

In other words, you can quite quickly develop foundational skills and start coding.

Career tracks, such as Associate Data Scientist in Python, involve multiple courses and projects, taking 90+ hours.

This is similar across other programming languages. 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and even advanced or professional programmers continue to develop their skills.

However, if you dedicate a few weeks of part-time study, you can master the basics and prepare for more advanced programming.

Is it easy to learn programming?

Anyone can learn to code if you dedicate time. 

DataCamp’s interactive approach means you don’t take on too much too soon, and you start applying your skills from day one, preparing you for real-world applications.

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