Online learning isn’t for everyone, but you’re the type with enough self discipline to make it work for you it can open up a whole world of educational opportunities. For people looking to improve their coding and development skills in subjects like Node.js, online courses are pretty much the only option.

For a start, the majority of older developers are more than familiar with the concept of being self taught – having come up through the education system at a time before the advent of code clubs and coding lessons as part of the school curriculum. For many, their only exposure to computers was as part of a special ‘computer club’ held at lunchtimes and after school. Others honed their skills over long hours at home, inspired by the early computing magazines to get more out of the family computer. So the concept of self education comes naturally to them, making online courses a great way to brush up on skills. Younger developers of course are more than comfortable with the concept of online learning, and are unlikely to refer to written course materials unless as part of a formal higher education program.

Developers know better than most that learning is not a finite process, systems are continuously evolving and updating, and skills need to keep pace. This means that the online learning environment makes perfect sense, with the widest variety of courses available. The online format meaning that courses can easily be brought up to date, and even where they are not updated, it’s easy to learn about critical changes from feedback, student forums and comments.

For those looking to explore Node.js courses there are a wide variety of options. It’s good to start by thinking about the type of learner you are and how you like to work. For example, are you happiest working from written materials and undertaking exercises as you, or do you prefer to watch videos? Are you comfortable with being given the bare essentials or do you prefer a more structured course with feedback?

And most importantly, what’s your budget? Paid or free? If you’re planning to make a career out of node.js, this will be an investment in your future, so it’s probably worth splashing some out some savings on.

No savings? Look at free courses or explore free trial period options. You might even learn enough to pay for the next instalment.

We’ve listed six of the best Node.js courses out there here, starting with the basics.

  1. If in doubt, start at the beginning. Check out the helpful guides on the Node.js website. I mean, they ought to know how it’s done, right? https://nodejs.org/en/docs/guides/
  1. Prefer a video explainer? Try the Node.js Tutorial for Absolute Beginners from Traversy Media. It’s a few months old, but covers the basics and, most importantly, encourages you to research further. And it’s free.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8XF6AFGqlcPart of a large group of free Node.js tutorials, so plenty more to move onto when you’re ready. https://www.youtube.com/user/TechGuyWeb/search?query=node
  1. Want some company? Hackr.io has a range of community recommended free and paid courses and also offers to hook you up with a programming buddy.A selection of their Node.js courses can be found here: https://hackr.io/tutorials/learn-node-js
  1. Or check out the awesome NodeSchool. They offer free, self-guided, open source lesson modules (called Workshoppers), most available offline, as well as the option of attending worldwide Workshops, where you can learn with others. The website also covers core skills like JavaScript and includes a great resource of libraries and writing styles.https://nodeschool.io/
  1. If you are paying, look for discounts. Stack Social offers bundles of paid courses at a variety of limited time discounts. At time of writing, the ‘Node.js: From Zero to Web Apps’ course by Stone River eLearning from is reduced from $199 to $19. https://stacksocial.com/search?cat=174&query=Web+Development
  1. Paid again, but the one month (no obligation) free trial offered at LinkedIn learning provider Lynda.com makes it easy to start learning Node.js, with hundreds of courses on offer.

Courses from this trusted global provider range from beginner through intermediate to advanced, and range from 10 minutes to hours, meaning there are options here for everyone.

Once your free trial is over Lynda.com offers access to over 6,000 courses in a variety of subjects with monthly subscriptions from £12.95. And there’s an option to buy for business teams too, so it’s worth showing your boss.

https://www.lynda.com/search?q=node.js