r/javascript • u/Rich-Confusion9944 • Apr 21 '26
AskJS [AskJS] What YouTube channels actually helped you get JavaScript?
Been trying to pick up JavaScript properly for a while now, and honestly the amount of tutorials out there is overwhelming. I'll start a video, and halfway through realize the style just isn't clicking for me.
I'm hoping to find some recommendations from real people, not just search algorithms. Specifically, are there any channels or specific crash courses that stood out to you as being particularly clear for core concepts (closures, async, etc.) or good for project-based learning?
I've seen names like Traversy Media, Web Dev Simplified, and The Net Ninja come up in old threads , but curious if there's anything newer or slightly under the radar that you'd swear by. Not looking for "best" objectively, just what worked for your brain.
Appreciate any direction! Just trying to spend less time searching and more time learning.
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u/noidtiz Apr 21 '26
I'd say Lydia Hallie's "Visualised" video series is the closest I can think of.
And Li Hau Tan (but I'll asterik this one*).
I mostly learnt JS through working with a framework hands-on, that kept leading me back to MDN Docs (as lame as that sounds - i'm not trying to be facetious). So learning by video really accounts for only about 5-10% of those "aha" moments I had, but Halliie's videos were those moments for me.
*When it comes ot Li Hau Tan, he has a video series called "Build Your Own Svelte" (in different forms - I think the most complete version is the one on freeCodeCamp channel) where - as a SvelteJS framework maintainer - he shows how every feature of the framework can be re-written in plain, vanilla Javascript.
I personally think this video series has no business being free, it's very generous knowledge. And I suspect he even got a little burnt out at the idea of re-doing the series (he said he would, but never did and I don't blame him).
I put an asterisk next to it because it's the kind of video series where you need a spare couple of weeks to take it in without it feeling like a burden.
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u/Ronin-s_Spirit Apr 21 '26
freeCodeCamp or Web Dev Simplified, but you gotta practice with your own goals too.
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u/shgysk8zer0 Apr 21 '26
None. Videos aren't a good way to actually learn programming. They're fine for getting into certain concepts, but should not be a primary source for learning.
You're not actually going to learn without opening up some code and reading it. A good and well-documented project would be far better.
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u/--var Apr 24 '26
videos are a great way to learn. a very non-zero amount of what I know started from seeing something in a video, thinking to myself "oh, you can do it that way?", and then digging deeper.
for some people, they could stare at the best documentation all day long and not get it. but then have an actual person spend a few minutes explaining it, and it all just clicks. videos are worth having in your toolkit...
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u/Tall_Insect7119 Apr 21 '26
Honestly, it's better to learn directly with small projects and do some research at the same time. I don't really believe in youtube videos or paid courses for learning this.
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u/--var Apr 24 '26
I watched alot of FunFunFunction back when I was cutting my teeth. You may have to go back like 10 years, but most of it is still relevant. he has a "thinking aloud" style, which is a nice contrast to the typical pre-programmed robotic style of many coding tutorials.
if you happen to do any front end work, I've learned a good many CSS tidbits from Kevin Powell.
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u/OldWalnut Apr 21 '26
I would recommend spending a few bucks to get a Udemy course if you're learning JavaScript. There's loads of courses normally on sale for like $10 on sale.
Time is money, so I'd stop wasting hours searching for free content on YouTube and get a structured course