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The Best Books for Learning JavaScript in 2023

Jonathan -

According to Stack Overflow's yearly developer study for 2022, JavaScript remains the most popular language for the 10th year in a row.  The language continues to grow in popularity and is now the language of choice for many not only on the frontend, but also the backend.

JavaScript has also matured greatly over the past several years, with new tooling and frameworks that make JavaScript development a more consistent and pleasurable experience.  And the adoption of TypeScript means JavaScript developers are now producing better quality code with fewer bugs, making it a more defensible choice for serious projects.

If you haven't learned JavaScript yet, or are looking to expand your horizons, now is the perfect time.  In this post, we'll look at 5 different recommended books for learning JavaScript, each coming at the language from a unique angle.

Learn the Basics

If you've never worked with JavaScript before and are looking to learn the fundamentals, JavaScript from Beginner to Professional is an excellent choice.  The book is filled with hands on examples of real-world JavaScript applications and covers just enough HTML, CSS and canvas background to build a variety of projects.

JavaScript from Beginner to Professional on Amazon

This is an excellent choice for those approaching JavaScript for the first time, or for more novice JavaScript developers looking to expand their horizons.

JavaScript on the Backend with Node.js

While most JavaScript resources are focused on frontend development, JavaScript is a solid choice for building out backends as well.  The book Node.js: The Comprehensive Guide to Server-Side JavaScript Programming teaches JavaScript with a focus on the server-side.

Node.js: The Comprehensive Guide to Server-Side JavaScript Programming on Amazon

The book covers building backends using the Express and Nest.js frameworks, using REST and GraphQL to build out server-side APIs.  It also covers more advanced server-side topics such as scalability, performance, testing and security.

This book is an excellent resource for frontend developers looking to apply their JavaScript knowledge to the backend and become more full-stack developers.

Frontend Essentials with JavaScript, HTML & CSS

If you're learning JavaScript with a focus on fonrtned design, but haven't yet mastered HTML & CSS, you'll definitely want a resource that teaches all three.  The book Teach Yourself HTML, CSS and JavaScript covers the basics of JavaScript, but also covers HTML and CSS in detail at the same time.

Teach Yourself HTML, CSS and JavaScript on Amazon

This book is a good choice for developers who are learning JavaScript specifically for frontend development, and for those who are more interested in the visual and design aspect.  It's also a good choice for people completely new to web development who haven't yet learned how HTML, CSS and JavaScript work together to build interactive applications.

Level Up with TypeScript

If you already know  JavaScript and are looking to bring your skills up to a more professional level, I definitely recommend mastering the TypeScript language. TypeScript is essentially a typed version of JavaScript, which means it helps you produce better quality code with fewer bugs.  The book Learning TypeScript is a great resource to get you started.

Learning TypeScript on Amazon

If you're learning JavaScript to land a position and a tech company, TypeScript is practically a prerequisite these days–it's where the industry is heading. I actually recommend that all developers learning JavaScript should learn TypeScript, but because TypeScript is a superset of JS, it's okay to learn JavaScript first before diving in.

For Younger JavaScript Learners (or for the Young at Heart)

For younger learners, JavaScript for Kids is a great option. It teaches the basics of JavaScript and programming in general, and builds out kid-friendly projects like games and animations along the way.

JavaScript for Kids on Amazon

In spite of the title, this book isn't just for kids–many of the reviews mention this book is great for adults too.  In particular, for adults learners without any kind of programming experience, this book teaches basic programming techniques in approachable, easy-to-understand lessons.  The book is a great choice for kids, or for adults who are looking to learn the fundamentals of JavaScript and programming in general before taking on some of the more advanced resources.

Learn JavaScript in 2023!

In 2023, the JavaScript language is more popular than ever.  If you've been putting off learning JavaScript, there's no better time than the present to dig in.  Whether you're looking to broaden your knowledge to land a backend developer job, or are just getting started with programming, there are resources here to help you on your journey.  And in case none of these books are of interest to you, here are some other places to get started on your JavaScript learning: