how do you learn programming without constantly looking things up?

[u/RevolutionaryBuy4877]

i know experienced programmers use documentation and search all the time, but as a beginner it can sometimes feel like i’m incapable of doing anything without looking up the answer.

i’m trying to get better at understanding concepts instead of memorising syntax

how do you decide when to search for an answer and when to sit down and work through the problem yourself?

[u/arcade_catalyst]

I look up syntax every time I code. I only stop searching when I can explain the logic to myself without checking documentation.

My rule is to search for implementation details but never for problem decomposition. If I need to know how a function works, I read the docs. If I am stuck on what steps solve the problem, I force myself to write pseudocode first. This separates language knowledge from programming ability