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JavaScript Tutorial for Kids: Disappearing Snowman

Daniel Schroeder — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. Enroll to learn real-world programming languages like Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and more!

Guess the right word before your snowman melts!

We’ve created this tutorial just in time for the holidays. Code a fun word game that you can share with family and friends.

[Download] JavaScript Projects Source Code Get the full source code for seven JavaScript project examples. Download Now

This Christmas-themed guessing game uses simple JavaScript code to power the game functions. Try coding this game following the tutorial and then customize it to make it your own.

Complete this JavaScript tutorial to make your own Disappearing Snowman Game.

Play the completed Disappearing Snowman Game.

Recommended: JavaScript for Kids

Tutorial Steps

Step 1: Fade keyboard keys on click
Step 2: Check for a match when clicking a keyboard key
Step 3: Remove a snowman part when there’s no match for a clicked keyboard key
Step 4: Check if the player loses
Step 5: Check if the player wins
Finished project!

What you need:

1. Text editor

We’ll be using the CodeWizardsHQ editor to write and run our JavaScript code.

You can also use an online text editor like replit that allows you to author and run JavaScript programs in a web browser. Make sure you have all of the project base files in order for your program to work correctly.

2. Base Files

Download the base files and open the app.js file. This folder contains all the images and files you will need to complete your game.

The HTML file holds the page title, emojis, and Player/Computer choice text.
The CSS file adds some styling to our page and helps lay out the HTML elements.
The error-handler.js file will display a big red error box on the page if you make an error while typing out your JavaScript code.
The app.js file is where we’ll write our application code.

If you’re a CodeWizardsHQ student, download the x_hour_of_code_2022 project for the completed code. The starter files are in the javascript-projects/disappearing-snowman/starter-files directory.

Note: The index.html file (which executes the JavaScript) expects the filename app.js so you must use the same file name if you’re using your own text editor! You’ll edit the app.js file but you’ll always run the index.html file.

This tutorial is for beginner JavaScript programmers ages 8+. It assumes you understand basic HTML/CSS and JavaScript. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Fade keyboard keys on click

When someone uses our app, they’ll try to guess the hidden word one letter at a time by clicking the keyboard on the page with their mouse. In this step, we’ll fade out each letter they click and ensure that no more logic runs on a faded-out letter.

In the styles.css file there’s a CSS class to make a keyboard key look faded out called selected. We’ll attach this class to whatever keyboard key the user clicks using JavaScript. You don’t have to type anything in the CSS file, this is just provided as a reference so you know why attaching this class to an HTML element makes it look faded out.

/* Added by JavaScript */

.hidden {
    display: none;
}

.selected {
    opacity: 0.3;
}

Navigate back to your app.js file to add the selected class to any key the user clicks.

First, create a variable called keyboardContainer
Use the document.querySelector() function to reference the element with the ID of keyboard-container and store it in the keyboardContainer variable
Then, we need to run code whenever an element in the keyboardContainer is clicked. We can use the addEventListener() function to ensure a function called handleKeyboardClick() (which we’ll define in just a minute) will run whenever a user clicks inside the keyboardContainer. The click event is triggered by clicking your mouse anywhere inside the keyboardContainer HTML element.

var words = ["APPLE", "PANCAKES", "COMPUTER", "PARIS", "MICROPHONE", "PASTRY"];
var randomWord = getRandomWord(words);

var keyboardContainer = document.querySelector("#keyboard-container");
keyboardContainer.addEventListener("click", handleKeyboardClick);

Create the function handleKeyboardClick() and define a single parameter called event that will be passed to this function whenever the keyboardContainer is clicked.
Whenever our keyboardContainer is clicked, we’ll run the handleKeyboardClick() function.

keyboardContainer.addEventListener("click", handleKeyboardClick);

generateHiddenWord(randomWord);

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {

}

Create a variable called clickedElement. We can get information about the element that was clicked by using the target property. We’ll store the element that was clicked in the variable.
Anytime a user clicks inside the keyboardContainer element our click event listener will fire. But, we only want to continue if they click on a letter. Check if the clickedElement does not (!) contain the letter class or if (||) contains the selected class (which we’ll add next). If either of those conditions is true, we’ll use the return keyword to immediately exit the function.
Finally, we’ll add the selected class to our clickedElement to ensure the CSS styles are applied to make it fade out a bit.

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {

    var clickedElement = event.target;

    if (!clickedElement.classList.contains("letter") || clickedElement.classList.contains("selected")) return;

    clickedElement.classList.add("selected");

}

Hint: Test this out by clicking a few of the keys on the HTML page. They should fade out as you click them!

Step 1 Output:

Step 2: Check for a match when clicking a keyboard key

In this step, we’ll check to see if the keyboard key a user clicks matches any of the letters in the hidden word. If so, we’ll show all of the matching letters in the hidden word.

First, let’s define a function called checkForMatch(). This function will take the clickedLetter as a parameter and will check to see if it matches any of the hidden letters.
Create a variable called hiddenLetterElements where we’ll store references to the hidden letters. We’ll need to know all of the hidden letters on the page in order to compare them with the clickedLetter parameter. To get them, use document.querySelectorAll() and select all elements with the class hidden. The querySelectorAll() method returns an array-like object that represents any HTML elements with the selector passed into the parentheses.

generateHiddenWord(randomWord);

function checkForMatch(clickedLetter) {
  var hiddenLetterElements = document.querySelectorAll(".hidden");
}

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {
  ...
}

Once we have all of the hiddenLetterElements, we can use a for...of loop to loop through the hidden letters one at a time. We’ll compare them with the clickedLetter that was passed in as a parameter to the function.
In the for...of loop, create a variable called hiddenLetter and get the textContent of the hiddenLetterElement.
Then, use a conditional statement to compare the hiddenLetter with our clickedLetter parameter and see if they are the same. The === operator ensures that both items it compares are equal.
The last thing we need to do in our checkForMatch() function is to remove the hidden class from any hiddenLetterElement whose letter matches the clickedLetter. The remove() method of the classList object allows us to remove a class from an HTML element.

function checkForMatch(clickedLetter) {
    var hiddenLetterElements = document.querySelectorAll(".hidden");

    for (var hiddenLetterElement of hiddenLetterElements) {
        var hiddenLetter = hiddenLetterElement.textContent;
        if (hiddenLetter === clickedLetter) {
            hiddenLetterElement.classList.remove("hidden");
        }
    }
}

Finally, back in our handleKeyboardClick() function, create a clickedLetter variable to store the textContent of the clickedElement.
Then we’ll pass this variable to our new checkForMatch() function. This ensures that whenever a user clicks a keyboard letter, handleKeyboardClick() will check for a match with that letter and all of the hidden letters.
Run your program and try clicking a few of the keyboard letters. You should see the ones that match the hidden letters show up on the page!

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {
    var clickedElement = event.target;
   
    if (!clickedElement.classList.contains("letter") || clickedElement.classList.contains("selected")) return;

    clickedElement.classList.add("selected");

    var clickedLetter = clickedElement.textContent;
    checkForMatch(clickedLetter);

}

Step 2 Output:

Step 3: Remove a snowman part when there’s no match for a clicked keyboard key

Now that we can tell if a user found a match or not, we need to remove a snowman part whenever there isn’t a match. This makes it seem like the snowman is melting if you guess a letter incorrectly!

Our snowman is made up of a few parts that are distinguished by CSS classes. The main parts have the classes hat, face, scarf, hands, body-top, body-middle, and body-bottom. You can see these parts if you view the HTML in index.html.

index.html (no changes here, just shown for context)

In app.js, create an array called snowmanParts and store each of the classnames. Order them from top (hat) to bottom (body-bottom). Note that each snowman part starts with a dot (.). This is a CSS notation that indicates each string represents a CSS class, and we’ll use the strings in the snowmanParts array to query the correct HTML element by its class name.

app.js

var words = ["APPLE", "PANCAKES", "COMPUTER", "PARIS", "MICROPHONE", "PASTRY"];
var randomWord = getRandomWord(words);
var keyboardContainer = document.querySelector("#keyboard-container");
var snowmanParts = [".hat", ".face", ".scarf", ".hands", ".body-top", ".body-middle", ".body-bottom"];

keyboardContainer.addEventListener("click", handleKeyboardClick);

Create a function called removeSnowmanPart(). This function will remove a single snowman part associated with those main classes each time the user guesses a letter that isn’t one of the hidden letters.
To remove the snowman parts from top-to-bottom, we need to remove the first item from the array each time removeSnowmanPart() is called. To remove the first item from an array, you use the Array.shift() method. We’ll store the removed item (which represents a CSS class) in a variable called snowmanPart.
Next, create a variable called partsToRemove to store these parts. Get the HTML element that represents the snowmanPart using document.querySelectorAll(). Remember, snowmanPart is a CSS selector (it starts with a dot) and querySelectorAll() will give us an array-like object of all HTML elements matching the selector we give it.

function removeSnowmanPart() {
    var snowmanPart = snowmanParts.shift();
    var partsToRemove = document.querySelectorAll(snowmanPart);
}

The final step of our function definition will be to loop through all of the partsToRemove and remove each part from the HTML document. To do this, we can create a for...of loop and then call the element.remove() function on each partToRemove. The element.remove() function removes an HTML element from the page.

function removeSnowmanPart() {
    var snowmanPart = snowmanParts.shift();
    var partsToRemove = document.querySelectorAll(snowmanPart);

    for (var partToRemove of partsToRemove) {
        partToRemove.remove();
    }
}

Before we can determine if the user guessed incorrectly, we’ll need to edit the checkForMatch() function to return a boolean value: true or false. We start hasMatch as false, and only change it to true if there is a match when we are comparing the clickedLetter to the hiddenLetter in the for...of loop.
The removeSnowmanPart() function should be called only when the user doesn’t guess the correct hidden letter in our handleKeyboardClick() function. The checkForMatch() function will return true if we found a match, and false otherwise.

function checkForMatch(clickedLetter) {
    var hiddenLetterElements = document.querySelectorAll(".hidden");
    var hasMatch = false;
    for (var hiddenLetterElement of hiddenLetterElements) {
        var hiddenLetter = hiddenLetterElement.textContent;
        if (hiddenLetter === clickedLetter) {
            hiddenLetterElement.classList.remove("hidden");
            hasMatch = true;
        }
    }

    return hasMatch;
}

Finally, in our handleKeyboardClick() function, we can create a variable called hasMatch and store the returned value from the checkForMatch() function. Remember, this variable is either the boolean value true or false.
We can then use that value in a conditional statement and call the removeSnowmanPart() function if there was no match. The ! operator means “not”, so we’re saying “If there’s no match, remove a snowman part” in this code sample.

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {
    var clickedElement = event.target;

    if (!clickedElement.classList.contains("letter") || clickedElement.classList.contains("selected")) return;

    clickedElement.classList.add("selected");

    var clickedLetter = clickedElement.textContent;
    var hasMatch = checkForMatch(clickedLetter);

    if (!hasMatch) {
        removeSnowmanPart();
    }
}

Step 3 Output

Step 4: Check if the player loses

A game is no fun without winners and losers! In this step, we’ll show a message if the user guesses incorrectly too many times and the snowman melts before they guess the hidden word.

We’ll create a function called checkForLoser() to check if the snowman has melted and the user loses. You lose when the snowman has melted, and in our program we’re removing a part from the snowmanParts array every time a user guesses a letter that isn’t in the hidden word. The snowman will be “melted” when there are no parts left in the snowmanParts array. We can check if there are no parts left in the snowmanParts array using a conditional statement and by comparing the length property of the snowmanParts array to 0.

function checkForLoser() {
    if (snowmanParts.length === 0) {

    }
}

In our conditional statement, we’ll add two messages to the page. The first will replace all the HTML in the snowman-container element with the text “You lost, game over!”. The second will replace all of the HTML in the keyboardContainer with the text “The word was: [RANDOM WORD]”. The RANDOM WORD will be whatever value is stored in the randomWord variable. Note that we can query and adjust the snowman-container on a single line since we don’t already have a reference to that HTML element stored in a variable.

function checkForLoser() {
    if (snowmanParts.length === 0) {
        document.querySelector("#snowman-container").innerHTML = "You lost, game over!";
        keyboardContainer.innerHTML = `The word was: ${randomWord}
`; 

    }
}

Now that our checkForLoser() function is working, we need to call it whenever the user clicks a key on the keyboard and the letter doesn’t match a letter in the hidden word. We’ve already got a conditional statement in the handleKeyboardClick() function to check if the user didn’t guess a matching letter, so we can call our checkForLoser() function after the removeSnowmanPart() function. This will ensure that we only check if the snowman is melted after removing a snowman part.

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {
    var clickedElement = event.target;

    if (!clickedElement.classList.contains("letter") || clickedElement.classList.contains("selected")) return;

    clickedElement.classList.add("selected");

    var clickedLetter = clickedElement.textContent;
    var hasMatch = checkForMatch(clickedLetter);

    if (!hasMatch) {
        removeSnowmanPart();
        checkForLoser();
    }
}

Step 4 Output

Step 5: Check if the player wins

For our final step, we’ll show a message if the player guesses the hidden word without melting the snowman!

First, we’ll create a function called checkForWinner(). A user wins when there are no more hidden letters, so this function’s job will be to show a winning message when there are no more hidden letters on the page.
Create a variable called hiddenLetterElements. To check for hidden letters, we first need a reference to all of the elements on the page with the class hidden. We can use document.querySelectorAll() to get an array of all the HTML elements with the class hidden and store them in hiddenLetterElements.

function checkForWinner() {
    var hiddenLetterElements = document.querySelectorAll(".hidden");
}

We can check the length property of the hiddenLetterElements array to see if there are any more HTML elements with the hidden class on the page. If the length property is 0, there are no more hidden letters on the page.
When there are no more hidden elements, the user wins! We can use the innerHTML property of the keyboardContainer to put a winning message on the page in place of the keyboard.

function checkForWinner() {
    var hiddenLetterElements = document.querySelectorAll(".hidden");
    if (hiddenLetterElements.length === 0) {
        keyboardContainer.innerHTML = "You win!";
    }
}

Finally, we need to call our checkForWinner() function every time the user guesses a letter correctly. We’re checking if the user guessed correctly in handleKeyboardClick(). We can add an else clause to our conditional statement at the end of that function and call our checkForWinner() function in the body of the else clause. This guarantees that every time the user has a match, we check if they won.

function handleKeyboardClick(event) {
    var clickedElement = event.target;

    if (!clickedElement.classList.contains("letter") || clickedElement.classList.contains("selected")) return;

    clickedElement.classList.add("selected");

    var clickedLetter = clickedElement.textContent;
    var hasMatch = checkForMatch(clickedLetter);

    if (!hasMatch) {
        removeSnowmanPart();
        checkForLoser();
    } else {
        checkForWinner();
    }
}

Step 5 Output

Your program is complete!

Check out the finished Disappearing Snowman Game.

Download the project files and open app.js to view the completed project.

This is just an example of what you can build when you learn JavaScript. There are plenty of exciting projects you can try and continue to build your skills.

Download JavaScript Projects Source Code

If you want to get the code behind 7 different JavaScript projects, download the full source code for free. You can use this code as an example to add to or inspire new projects. Enter your email below:

If you want to code more websites and games in JavaScript, join CodeWizardsHQ’s live coding classes for kids. It’s the most fun and effective way for kids to learn JavaScript and other real-world languages..

Students in all of our core tracks study JavaScript because of its importance in web development and beyond. They work with a live, expert instructor who supports them every step of the way. Classes are engaging and you’ll build a portfolio of websites, games, and apps as you learn.

Have fun and happy holidays!

The post JavaScript Tutorial for Kids: Disappearing Snowman appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

JavaScript Tutorial for Kids: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Daniel Schroeder — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 07:11:01 +0000

Online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. Enroll to learn real-world programming languages like Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and more!

Is rock, paper, scissors more about skill or luck? Everyone has their own theory, but it’s one of those games that we all love to play when we’re bored.

The logic is relatively simple, so it’s an easy game for beginners to turn into code too. You can replicate this game in any coding language, but JavaScript is a great way to play.

[Download] JavaScript Projects Source Code Get the full source code for seven JavaScript project examples. Download Now

In this tutorial, we’ll automate a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors versus the computer. Use computational thinking to setup the game and handle the possible game outcomes. Follow this tutorial to build your own rock, paper, scissors game and try out your luck (or skills!).

Complete this JavaScript tutorial to make your own Rock, Paper, Scissors game.

Play the completed Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Recommended: JavaScript for Kids

Tutorial Steps

Step 1: Add some setup code to handle the player’s choice
Step 2: Add logic to handle the player’s choice
Step 3: Show an emoji on the page for the computer’s choice
Step 4: Shuffle the computer’s emoji choices
Step 5: Pick a random emoji for the computer
Step 6: Decide who won the game
Finished project!

What you need:

1. Text editor

We’ll be using the CodeWizardsHQ editor to write and run our JavaScript code.

2. Base Files

Download the base files and open the app.js file. This folder contains all the images and files you will need to complete your game.

The HTML file holds the page title, emojis, and Player/Computer choice text.
The CSS file adds some styling to our page and helps lay out the HTML elements.
The error-handler.js file will display a big red error box on the page if you make an error while typing out your JavaScript code.
The app.js file is where we’ll write our application code.

If you’re a CodeWizardsHQ student, download the x_hour_of_code_2022 project for the completed code. The starter files are in the javascript-projects/rock-paper-scissors/starter-files directory.

Note: The index.html file (which executes the JavaScript) expects the filename app.js so you must use the same file name if you’re using your own text editor! You’ll edit the app.js file but you’ll always run the index.html file.

This tutorial is for beginner JavaScript programmers ages 8+. It assumes you understand basic HTML/CSS and JavaScript. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Add some setup code to handle the player’s choice.

We’ll begin by adding code to set up when the player clicks the emoji to make their choice.

Open the app.js file, all of the code in this tutorial will go into this file.
Create a playerChoice variable representing the player’s choice and set it to an empty string (the "" characters denote a string). We’ll declare this variable at the top of our file because we want to use it in a few places

Note: We’ll define all of our functions at the bottom of the file, and leave the variable declarations, event listener registration, and function calls at the top of our file.

var playerChoice = "";

Use document.querySelector() to select the #player-choice-container HTML element (the # means this is the ID of the element) and store it in a variable called playerChoiceContainer. This is the section that holds the player’s emojis.

var playerChoice = "";

var playerChoiceContainer = document.querySelector("#player-choice-container");

Attach an event listener to the playerChoiceContainer that will run the handlePlayerChoice() function (which we’ll create next) whenever this container with the player’s emojis is clicked.

var playerChoiceContainer = document.querySelector("#player-choice-container");

playerChoiceContainer.addEventListener("click", handlePlayerChoice);

Create a function called handlePlayerChoice() that records the players emoji selection. Since this is an event-handler function attached to a click event, use an event parameter representing the click event in the parenthesis. Note that there is no change in the output for this step!

playerChoiceContainer.addEventListener("click", handlePlayerChoice);

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {

}

Step 2: Add logic to handle the player’s choice

Once the player clicks on their emoji choice, we need to add logic that will save their choice and display it on the screen.

In the handlePlayerChoice() function, add an if statement. If the element that was clicked (the event.target) does not (!) contain the class emoji, we will exit the function. This means that if a player clicks next to an emoji, none of the other function code runs. If they click on an emoji, it will run. The return statement exits a function immediately and can optionally return a value to the function caller.

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
    if (!event.target.classList.contains("emoji")) return;

}

Get the text content of the clicked element (the emoji) and save it in the playerChoice variable. We’ll then change the innerHTML of the playerChoiceContainer to only display the emoji that was clicked.

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
    if (!event.target.classList.contains("emoji")) return;

    playerChoice = event.target.textContent;
    playerChoiceContainer.innerHTML = `${playerChoice}`;

}

Step 2 Output

Step 3: Show an emoji on the page for the computer’s choice

We’ll create a function that will eventually shuffle the emojis on the page and display the computer’s choice. In this step, we’ll create the function and display a single emoji choice on the page.

Create a variable called computerChoice that will hold the computer’s choice. We want to be able to access the variable in a few places so we’ll create it at the top of our file to ensure that it is global.

var playerChoice = "";
var computerChoice = "";

Create an array, a type of data that holds several items in a single variable, called emojis that holds the Rock, Paper, and Scissors emoji characters. Note that the scissors emoji needs to have an additional space after the emoji, as the quote characters overlap the emoji if you don’t add a space on the right-hand side in most text editors.

You can find each emoji here:

https://emojipedia.org/rock/
https://emojipedia.org/page-facing-up/
https://emojipedia.org/scissors/

var playerChoice = "";
var computerChoice = "";
/*
 * Note that the scissors emoji has to have an extra space!
 */
var emojis = ["✂ ", "📄", "🪨"];

In a variable called emojiShuffleElement, use document.querySelector() to get a reference to the #emoji-shuffle element.

var emojis = ["✂ ", "📄", "🪨"];

var playerChoiceContainer = document.querySelector("#player-choice-container");
var emojiShuffleElement = document.querySelector("#emoji-shuffle");

Next, create a function called shuffleEmojis(). This will eventually shuffle through the computer’s three emojis on a timer, but right now, it’ll simply pick whatever emoji we ask for from the emojis array and display it on the page. (Don’t type the ... characters. Those are an indicator that we’re leaving out code you don’t need to worry about right now.)

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
    ...
}

function shuffleEmojis() {

}

Get an item from the emojis array and store it in the computerChoice variable. We use the [] brackets to access array items at an index number. Array indices start at 0, so the first element is at index 0, the second at index 1, etc. Here, we select the second item, the Paper emoji.

function shuffleEmojis() {
    computerChoice = emojis[1];
}

Get the text inside of your emojiShuffleElement variable by setting the textContent of the emojiShuffleElement to the computerChoice (which represents the emoji text). If you don’t need to change the HTML of an element, the textContent property is an easy way to display text on the screen.

function shuffleEmojis() {
    computerChoice = emojis[1];
    emojiShuffleElement.textContent = computerChoice;
}

Next, call the shuffleEmojis() function. You should now see your chosen emoji appear under the “Computer’s Choice” text. Try changing the index number to a different emoji’s index in shuffleEmojis() to see if the emoji on the page changes! Note that you’ll need to refresh the page after each change in order to see the changes take effect.

playerChoiceContainer.addEventListener("click", handlePlayerChoice);

shuffleEmojis();

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
  ...
}

Step 3 Output

Step 4: Shuffle the computer’s emoji choices

We’ll create a shuffle animation that shuffles through the Rock, Paper, and Scissors emojis quickly. This makes it seem like the computer is thinking about what choice it will randomly select.

Create a variable called currentEmojiNumber that will hold the index number of the emoji we’re currently displaying on the page during the shuffling process. We’ll start with the first index in the emojis array, index 0.

var emojis = ["✂ ", "📄", "🪨"];
var currentEmojiNumber = 0;

In the shuffleEmojis() function, use the currentEmojiNumber to pick an emoji out of the emojis array.

function shuffleEmojis() {
    computerChoice = emojis[currentEmojiNumber];
    emojiShuffleElement.textContent = computerChoice;
}

We need to increase the currentEmojiNumber if we’re not on the last index of the emojis array and set it to 0 otherwise. We’ll use an if...else conditional statement to do this. Note that the emojis array has a length property that we can use to find out how big it is and that the last index number is 1 less than the length of the array. Also, note that we can increase the value stored in a variable using the ++ operator, as we do on the currentEmojiNumber here.

function shuffleEmojis() {
    computerChoice = emojis[currentEmojiNumber];
    emojiShuffleElement.textContent = computerChoice;

    if (currentEmojiNumber < emojis.length - 1) {
        currentEmojiNumber++;
    } else {
        currentEmojiNumber = 0;
    }

}

Remove the call to shuffleEmojis(). We’ll have JavaScript call this function in an interval timer instead.

playerChoiceContainer.addEventListener("click", handlePlayerChoice);

shuffleEmojis();  // REMOVE THIS!

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
  ...
}

Use the setInterval() function to call the shuffleEmojis() function every 150 milliseconds. The setInterval() function is provided to us from the browser. It returns a reference to the ID of the running interval timer which we’ll store in a variable called shuffleIntervalID. This ID can be used to stop the interval timer, which we’ll do in the next step.

var currentEmojiNumber = 0;

var shuffleIntervalID = setInterval(shuffleEmojis, 150);

var playerChoiceContainer = document.querySelector("#player-choice-container");

Step 4 Output

Step 5: Pick a random emoji for the computer

Now that the computer’s possible choices are shuffling between Rock, Paper, and Scissors, we need to actually pick a random choice for the computer after the player makes their choice.

We’ll use the clearInterval() function to stop shuffleEmojis() inside our handlePlayerChoice() function. Since the shuffleIntervalID points to the interval timer that is running shuffleEmojis(), clearInterval() will stop that timer.

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
    if (!event.target.classList.contains("emoji")) return;
    playerChoice = event.target.textContent;
    playerChoiceContainer.innerHTML = `${playerChoice}`;
    clearInterval(shuffleIntervalID);
}

Step 5 Output

Step 6: Decide who won the game

For our last step, we’ll create a function to see who won the game.

Create a function called determineGameWinner(). This function will hold all the logic to determine who won the game.

function determineGameWinner() {

}

Create two variables: gameResultMessageElement and gameResultMessage. We can use document.querySelector() to get the HTML element with the ID of game-result-message and then the gameResultMessageElement. We’ll make the gameResultMessage an empty string for now because we won’t know the value of this variable until we determine who won.

playerChoiceContainer.addEventListener("click", handlePlayerChoice);

function determineGameWinner() {

    var gameResultMessageElement = document.querySelector("#game-result-message");
    var gameResultMessage = "";

}

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
  ...
}

We can use a chain of conditional statements to determine if there is a tie, if the player won, or if the computer won. Set the gameResultMessage in the body of each conditional statement. Note that we only need to check for a tie and if the player won. If neither of those results occurs, then we can use the else clause to state that the computer won. Also, please make sure to add an extra space to the right of the scissors emoji to ensure your program works correctly (there’s an extra space in the HTML and in our emojis array).

function determineGameWinner() {
    var gameResultMessageElement = document.querySelector("#game-result-message");
    var gameResultMessage = "";

    if (playerChoice === computerChoice) {
        gameResultMessage = "It's a tie!";
        // Note the extra space in the scissors emoji!
    } else if (playerChoice === "🪨" && computerChoice === "✂ ") {
        gameResultMessage = "Player wins!";
    } else if (playerChoice === "📄" && computerChoice === "🪨") {
        gameResultMessage = "Player wins!";
    } else if (playerChoice === "✂ " && computerChoice === "📄") {
        gameResultMessage = "Player wins!";
    } else {
        gameResultMessage = "Computer wins!";
    }

}

The final thing our function needs to do is add our gameResultMessage to the page. We do this by making it the textContent of the gameResultMessageElement. We can also stick the string “Refresh to play again!” on the end of our gameResultMessage so users of our app know how to play another game.

function determineGameWinner() {
    ...

    if (playerChoice === computerChoice) {
        gameResultMessage = "It's a tie!";
        // Note the extra space in the scissors emoji!
    } else if (playerChoice === "🪨" && computerChoice === "✂ ") {
        gameResultMessage = "Player wins!";
    } else if (playerChoice === "📄" && computerChoice === "🪨") {
        gameResultMessage = "Player wins!";
    } else if (playerChoice === "✂ " && computerChoice === "📄") {
        gameResultMessage = "Player wins!";
    } else {
        gameResultMessage = "Computer wins!";
    }

    gameResultMessageElement.textContent = gameResultMessage + " Refresh to play again!";
}

As the final step, we’ll call our determineGameWinner() function in handlePlayerChoice() after all of the other function code has run:

function handlePlayerChoice(event) {
    if (!event.target.classList.contains("emoji")) return;
    playerChoice = event.target.textContent;
    playerChoiceContainer.innerHTML = `${playerChoice}`;
    clearInterval(shuffleIntervalID);
    determineGameWinner();
}

Step 6 Output

Your game is complete!

Check out the finished project.

Download the project files and open app.js to view the completed project code.

Add this fun game to your portfolio and show it off to family and friends. You can even customize the code to be your own version of Rock, Paper, Scissors with new rules and design.

Download JavaScript Projects Source Code

Students in all of our core programming tracks study JavaScript because of its importance in web development and beyond. They work with a live, expert instructor who supports them every step of the way. Classes are engaging and you’ll build a portfolio of websites, games, and apps as you learn.

The post JavaScript Tutorial for Kids: Rock, Paper, Scissors appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Ultimate Guide to JavaScript Game Development: Best JavaScript Games and How to Code Your Own

Thomas Kellough — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 21:44:00 +0000

Online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. Enroll to learn real-world programming languages like Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and more!

JavaScript games are fun, easy to build, and a great way for kids to learn coding. JavaScript is a very popular programming language that is used on nearly every website on the internet. Adding JavaScript to a web based application can bring to life animations and interactions that make browsing and playing games even better.

[Download] JavaScript Projects Source Code Get the full source code for seven JavaScript project examples. Download Now

One popular topic that attracts kids to learn how to program using JavaScript is its ability to make games that are easily played on the web. With internet speeds increasing and computer hardware becoming more advanced, it’s no wonder that the last decade has seen a rising amount of game developers creating new content by using JavaScript.

JavaScript Game Development

Is JavaScript Good for Game Development?
JavaScript vs Java for Games
Popular Games That Use JavaScript
What are the Best JavaScript Game Engines
How to Code a Game in JavaScript
Learn JavaScript Programming with Our JavaScript Classes for Kids

Is JavaScript Good for Game Development?

Now that you know JavaScript coding can be used to make games, it brings the question of whether it is good for this task.

Yes! JavaScript is a great language for game development, depending on the type of game you want to create.

JavaScript is best for web-based and mobile games. It’s also a great language for kids to learn because it’s generally easy to understand and has plenty of resources for coders readily available online. We encourage teaching JavaScript in middle school and high school.

JavaScript games can be played in the browser or mobile phone, so, if that’s your goal, it’s an excellent option. Using platforms and tools can help create both 2D and 3D games that can run directly in your browser. Aside from only web-based games, JavaScript has been increasing in popularity in mobile game development.

On the contrary, if you’re looking to create the next big AAA game, like Call of Duty or FIFA, using JavaScript, you may find it challenging. Even though the language is very versatile, JavaScript is much slower than languages such as C++ and consumes much more memory. Advanced games require heavy GPU calculations and it’s a substantial amount of weight to carry that JavaScript just isn’t cut out for.

JavaScript vs Java for Game Development

We often hear people compare JavaScript and Java and even sometimes incorrectly use these words interchangeably. In actuality, JavaScript and Java are completely unrelated and the main thing that they have in common is that they are both programming languages containing the word “Java.”

JavaScript is an interpreted scripting language while Java is a compiling language. As an interpreted scripting language, code does not need to be compiled. Instead, results are interpreted by a user’s command. This is why it works so well when creating websites. Users are often clicking around and scrolling on a website, which is input that JavaScript can use to perform an action accordingly.

Java, however, requires code to be compiled before it can be run. That means the code is translated into a machine language for the computer to understand.

Now that that’s out of the way, what is the potential for these languages when it comes to games? Once again, if your goal is to make web browser games, JavaScript may be your ideal choice. But if your ideal type of game is something that can run on a PC or console, Java may be a better language. A very popular game that is built with Java is Minecraft.

Recommended: Summer Minecraft Camp for Kids

Popular games in JavaScript

Many popular online games were built using JavaScript. Kids who want to do JavaScript game coding can use these as inspiration. Check out some of them below!

Tower Building is a great way to get started with JavaScript games. The game allows players to stack blocks to create a very tall tower. This is a fantastic game to look at because it not only includes a QR code for you to play on your phone, but you can also browse, fork, and clone the GitHub repository to see how the game was created.
Bejeweled was created as an in-browser game in the early 2000s. It’s similar to Candy Crush where you have to match three jewels in a row to score points.
2048 is an addicting game that allows you to use your arrow keys to move tiles around in a grid. The idea is to merge tiles until they equal 2048. Fun fact, one of the first Python scripts I wrote was a way to automatically play this game for me!
Polycraft is a 3D game that is playable in your browser. Polycraft is full of adventure, exploration, base-building, gathering, crafting, and even fighting. It’s an excellent example of how you can move past 2D games with Javascript.
Words With Friends 2 is a mobile app game that uses React Native, a framework that utilizes JavaScript to create mobile applications. Zynga chose to use React Native for its ability to create a game that can be played on multiple platforms using JavaScript with one code-base.

Recommended: Coding Programs for Kids & Teens

What Are the Best JavaScript Game Engines

JavaScript code is purely text, and while it’s powerful, JavaScript cannot do everything alone. When developing games with JavaScript it’s very common to use a game engine or rendering library. Kids who learn to incorporate game engines in their programs will be taking the next step into making their dream game come to life.

Game engines are software that allows you to create extra components for games such as sound, animations, graphics, and physics. There is a multitude of options when looking for a game engine or rendering library for your game that can be used for your specific needs. Here are some popular examples to choose from.

PixiJS

PixiJS is an open-sourced engine that prides itself on speed and beautiful API. The 2D renderer also has cross-platform support so you can make your game for multiple applications. Being open-source also allows a highly supportive community to take part in providing consistent improvements to the engine.

BabylonJS

BabylonJS is a rendering library that has very powerful tools that allow you to create anything from simple animations to 3D games. Like PixiJS, BabylonJS is also open-sourced and has a large community of developers to help it grow.

Phaser

Phaser offers support for desktop and mobile HTML5 games. Its focus is on 2D game development that can be compiled to multiple platforms. A benefit of using Phaser is the ability to use additional plugins as needed. This allows you to keep your tools small in size so you don’t have too many unnecessary components.

melonJS

The melonJS framework is lightweight but provides the ability to add plugins as you see fit. It allows you to add features such as collisions, sprites, physics, particle effects, and more. It’s also known for being very beginner-friendly compared to other game engines.

Three.js

Another popular library for rendering 3D graphics in a web browser is Three.js. It’s fairly easy to learn and is highly popular, which means there are an endless amount of examples available. Its default renderer is WebGL, but it also provides support for SVG, Canvas 2D, and CSS3D renderers.

Recommended: JavaScript Classes for Kids & Teens

How to Code a Game in JavaScript

If you want to make a quick and easy JavaScript game right now, then you’re in the right spot. These steps will guide you through the process of creating your own block jumper game. You can also download the completed JavaScript Block Hopper code.

Step 1 – Select a Code Editor

To get started, head over to an editor of your choice. The examples shown here will be using our CodeWizardsHQ editor, which students in all of our coding classes have access to. If you are not currently a student with us, you can use another online editor like CodePen.

Step 2 – Build a Game Canvas

The first piece of code we will write will establish a canvas for our game. You can adjust the height and width as needed. This takes four steps.

Add your canvas code inside your tags
Create your startGame function and define your variables and getCanvas inside your tags
Call startGame in the tags onload.
If you’d like, add a title using an
tag inside the tag

You should see a light blue rectangle with our game title, Block Hopper. This will be the background of our game.

Note: after this step all code you write will go inside the tags.

Step 3 – Code Your Player, The Hopper

Next, let’s add our player. We will do this in four steps.

Create a variable called player.
Create a variable to hold the Y position of the player.
Create a function called createPlayer() that has parameters for width, height, and x-position.
In startGame() create our player using the function from step 3 and assign it to the variable created in step 1.

Step 4 – Add Gravity to Your Player

Let’s create some gravity for the player. Here are the steps.

Create a variable fallSpeed.
Create a new interval and hold it in a variable that calls our updateCanvas() function.
Create two functions for our player; one to draw and another to move the player.
Create an updateCanvas() function that clears the canvas and redraws the player.

Step 5 – Add Code Functionality to Your Player

Our player is falling, however, we want our player to stop as soon as it hits the ground. Add the following stopPlayer() function inside your createPlayer() function. Then call the function at the end of movePlayer().

Step 6 – Code Jump Logic for Your Player

Now, let’s allow our player to jump when we press the space bar.

Create an isJumping boolean and jumpSpeed property.
Create a jump() function inside your createPlayer() function.
Update our makeFall() function.
Call our jump() function inside updateCanvas().
Create a resetJump() function.
Toggle the isJumping boolean and call the resetJump() once we press spacebar.

Step 7 – Build the Attack Block

It’s time to create a block to attack you. This will be similar to creating the player, but we will add some randomization for our block’s properties.

Create a new block variable and createBlock() function
Assign the block variable with a value from createBlock()
Call the function inside startGame() and assign it to your variable
Create a randomNumber() function
Inside your createBlock() function, assign random numbers for width, height, and speed. Then create a draw() function and attackPlayer() function.
In updateCanvas(), call block.Draw() and block.attackPlayer();

Step 8 – Add Logic to Move Your Player

Great! Now our block moves to attack our player, however, once it gets to the edge of the screen it never returns. Let’s fix that.

Create a returnToAttackPostion() function inside createBlock()
Reset the width, height, speed, and x and y value of the block
Call the new function at the end of attackPlayer()

Step 9 – Stop the Game on Collision

When the block successfully attacks the player we need to end the game. It’s time to write a detectCollision() function that stops the game once a collision happens. Call the detectCollision() function in your updateCanvas() function.

Step 10 – Add a Score to the Game

For the grand finale, we will add a score to our game. This is done much the same way as creating shapes, except we will specify a fillText property and font.

Create a score variable equal to 0 to start. While you’re there, create a scoreLabel variable to be used later.
Create a createScoreLabel() function with a draw() function.
Assign your scoreLabel a value with our createScoreLabel() function
Call scoreLabel.draw() in updateCanvas()
Increase your score once your block makes it to the end

Complete Your First JavaScript Game!

And there you have it, you have coded your first JavaScript game. However, the best way to get better at programming is to write code yourself. Below are a few different challenges that you can try to add to your game.

For an easy challenge, change a few of the variables such as fallSpeed or jumpSpeed. Play with it a bit until you get to a setting you like.
For a medium-to-difficult challenge, create a new label on the other side of the screen that holds how many lives you have. Starting with three lives, you lose one every time you have a collision. Once you’re out of lives then it’s game over!
For a difficult challenge, add a new object in the game that gives you bonus points if you touch it. This will involve creating a new function to create the object and adding collision detection. It’s probably a good idea to make the object float, too!

If you want to see and play the completed game, go to https://mediap.codewizardshq.com/BlockHopper/block_hopper.html

You can also download the completed JavaScript Block Hopper code.

Download JavaScript Projects Source Code

Learn JavaScript Programming with Our JavaScript Classes for Kids

You’ve made it this far! You are on your way to becoming a JavaScript game developer. This was only the beginning of unlocking many new skills to help you make the game you have always wanted.

If you want to continue learning how to code and build your own games, CodeWizardsHQ offers virtual coding classes for teens that teach the fundamentals of real-world programming languages. Every class is taught by a live teacher with other kids who are excited to code just like you. Our classes include JavaScript and feature fun projects like making your own slot machine and Space Wars game.

Ready to level up your child’s learning experience? Take a coding class with CodeWizardsHQ:

With the help of our CodeWizardsHQ teachers, you’ll be amazed at how far you can go with your own JavaScript game development!

The post Ultimate Guide to JavaScript Game Development: Best JavaScript Games and How to Code Your Own appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

7 Beginner JavaScript Projects for Kids

Jennifer Gilbert — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. Enroll to learn real-world programming languages like Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and more!

While every coding journey starts with learning the basics of a particular programming language, practicing those basics is just as important. There’s no better way to master your JavaScript programming skills than to put them to work with a project, like building a game or web app.

[Download] JavaScript Projects Source Code Get the full source code for all seven JavaScript project examples. Download Now

An important part of learning to code is just to practice as much as possible. Programming a JavaScript project not only helps you practice what you’ve already learned, but also helps you recognize bugs in the code and how to fix them.

JavaScript Projects for Kids

Kids Can Learn JavaScript
What Kids Can Create with JavaScript
Where Can I Practice JavaScript?
What Makes The Best JavaScript Projects
7 JavaScript Project Examples for Kids and Beginners
Download JavaScript Projects Source Code

Kids Can Learn JavaScript

JavaScript is a dynamic coding language that is most often used to make websites and web applications interactive. JavaScript is what lets you click on menu bars, fill out web forms, and basically do anything on websites besides read text. You can practice all of these skills with a simple JavaScript project as an example. While HTML and CSS code provides the bones of a website, such as the text on the page and its format, JavaScript code is what makes a website really come to life.

JavaScript is a great programming language for kids and beginners since it’s easy to learn and its interactive functions make it fun to learn, too! JavaScript lets you add animations and videos to a website and you can even use it to code your own games.

Recommended: Kids Coding Websites

What You Can Create with JavaScript

There are lots of JavaScript projects for beginners, which is part of the reason it’s such a great language for kids to learn. Some work in conjunction with other programming languages, like HTML and CSS, while others use JavaScript alone. Here are some of the fun things you can create with JavaScript:

Websites
Mobile apps
Web apps
Games
Presentations
Web Servers
Interactive Artwork

Where Can I Practice JavaScript?

There are lots of websites where you can start to learn the basics of JavaScript code or practice what you’ve learned so far. Many include tutorials that walk you through just the fundamentals. Key concepts covered may include JavaScript syntax, variables, functions, and operators. Others include full JavaScript projects for beginners to code. These websites don’t really teach JavaScript code, but provide a place for you learn through practice.

What Makes The Best JavaScript Projects

The best JavaScript projects for kids feature key fundamentals of JavaScript in a way that makes learning fun. Consider what you’re most interested in building, whether that’s a website, game, or app, and then look for those types of projects. The best projects also have clear directions for every step and point out when you can easily customize certain features.

You also want to make sure you choose projects that match the JavaScript skills you already have. If you’re completely new to JavaScript, projects that focus on JavaScript basics like using a variable, data types, objects, and functions are ideal. On the other hand, if you already have some experience with JavaScript, you can get into building more complex games and websites, making them interactive and responsive. Just make sure to take it one step at a time. If a project is too challenging, practice the skills you’re unfamiliar with and then go back to it.

Recommended: JavaScript Classes for Kids

7 JavaScript Project Examples for Kids and Beginners

Challenge yourself to code a JavaScript game, website, or app!

[Download] JavaScript Projects Source Code Get the full source code for all seven JavaScript project examples. Download Now

1. Galactic Star Catcher

Reach for the stars and catch them in a simple clicker game. Use JavaScript events to build a Galactic Star Catcher game. This is a game JavaScript project where you practice Math methods to randomize numbers and the position of the star and mouse events to interact by clicking and increasing your score.

Galactic Star Catcher Project

2. Piano

Write a hit song on your digital piano. Use the keyboard to play the piano keys and code a slider to control the volume. Fun, simple practice for arrays, using sound files, and keyboard events.

Piano Project

3. Alarm Clock

Start the day with your JavaScript alarm clock. Get input from users with a web browser prompt to set how long your alarm is. You can practice using the timer and interval functions to control your alarm. Try using the console to debug your code.

Alarm Clock Project

4. Spaceship Landing

Land a spaceship safely on its platform and become a hero. In this project, shift the spaceship right and left using JS keyboard events. Programming this web game will help you practice if statements and for loops.

Spaceship Landing

5. Image Slider

A popular feature of many websites, display your favorite images using an image slider. Code buttons to move forward and back through your slideshow. You’ll get to practice the code for click events and using animation.

Slider App Project

6. Paint App

Digital images are made of pixels and you’ll get to draw your own images by building a Paint App. Use CSS to select a web color and draw a new masterpiece in pixels. Keep your code DRY using loops with your data. Practice programming in jQuery and manipulate HTML attributes.

Paint App Project

7. Word Scramble Project

You can play this classic word scramble game with friends and family. Use JavaScript and jQuery to build a simple game. Practice using inputs to get answers from the user and display information with browser alerts.

Word Scramble Project

Download JavaScript Projects Source Code

If you want to get the code behind these 7 JavaScript projects, download the full source code for free. You can use this code as an example to add to or inspire new projects. Enter your email below:

Learn To Code in JavaScript

You can learn to code JavaScript games, websites, and apps like these through coding classes with CodeWizardsHQ. Our online coding classes for middle school and high school students teach JavaScript, along with HTML, CSS, and Python, through fun projects that you can customize to make your own. Each class can be taken from home and is taught by a live teacher. We believe everyone can be a programmer and we’re excited to show you how much you can learn!

Ready to level up your child’s learning experience? Take a coding class with CodeWizardsHQ:

The post 7 Beginner JavaScript Projects for Kids appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

JavaScript Tutorial: Easter Egg Hunt

Margaret Choi — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. Enroll to learn real-world programming languages like Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and more!

It’s the time of year for candy and eggs, it’s almost Easter! One of our favorite Easter traditions is the egg hunt. Whether you color the eggs, cook them, or go for the plastic variety, it’s so much fun searching for the hidden Easter eggs. Let’s use this real life game to practice coding a game in JavaScript and jQuery.

[Download] JavaScript Projects Source Code Get the full source code for seven JavaScript project examples. Download Now

If you’re a beginner or kid who’s learning to code, this JavaScript tutorial will show you how to create your own Easter Egg Hunt game using JavaScript and jQuery. You can personalize and hide Easter eggs for your friends and family to find.

Complete this easy JavaScript tutorial to code your own Easter egg hunt.

Play Easter Egg Hunt

Table of Contents

What you need
Step 1: Setup a JavaScript Function
Step 2: Add the Function Call
Step 3: Fade the Egg on Click
Step 4: Add a Score Variable
Step 5: Increase the Score By 1
Step 6: Update Score with New Score
Step 7: Add a Condition For Eggs Found
Step 8: Alert When All Eggs Are Found
Step 9: Your Game is Complete!

What you need:

1. Text editor

In the project examples, we’ll be using the CodeWizardsHQ editor.

You can use a simple text editor like Notepad, TextEdit, Sublime Text, etc. You may also use an online text editor like Repl.it to write and share your code.

2. Base HTML, CSS, and image files.

Download the base folder and open the easter.html file. This folder contains all the images and files you will need to complete your game.

CodeWizardsHQ students, you can download the starter files called “x_easter_egg_hunt” in your editor and easily share your project URL with family and friends. That’s what I’m using for my project!

Recommended: HTML and CSS Coding Classes

Step 1: Setup a JavaScript Function

The starter files setup the basic HTML and connects your CSS and jQuery. The eggs have been hidden and your goal is to add the JavaScript and jQuery code to collect the eggs and win the game.

Open the easter.html file and find the

Functions

A function is a series of instructions that help computers perform a task. Example:

function myFunction(p1, p2) {
return p1 * p2; // The function returns the product of p1 and p2
}

Class

A class in JavaScript creates objects by organizing data. Example:

class Car {
constructor(name, year) {
this.name = name;
this. year = year;
}
}

Conditionals

Conditionals are statements that control behavior in JavaScript. These statements determine if certain code should run. Example:

if (hour < 18) {
greeting = “Good day”;
}

Scope

Scope determines and manages the availability of the variables. Example:

{
let x = 2;
}
// x can NOT be used here outside of the {}

Array

An array is a single variable that helps accumulate multiple elements. Example:

const cars = [“Saab”, “Volvo”, “BMW”];

Console

The console is a function that helps display variables to the users: Example:

console.log(“Hello world!”);

JavaScript Libraries and Frameworks

A rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks has emerged around JavaScript, making development more efficient.

Frameworks are a set of pre-written code for programmers to easily set up the foundation for their program or website.

Libraries are code snippets prewritten for multiple usages. These libraries help perform the function for faster development and reduce vulnerabilities to human error.

Popular JavaScript libraries and frameworks include:

Angular
JQuery
QUnit
Parsley
React
Ember.js
Node.js

How to Teach Kids JavaScript

Step 1: Set the Stage, Start With the Prerequisites
Before diving into JavaScript, it’s essential to lay the foundation. Kids should learn basic typing skills and be familiar with using a web browser. Explain how the computer, web browsers, and the internet function and work together.

Step 2: The ABCs of JavaScript
Introduce the fundamental concepts of JavaScript in a kid-friendly manner. Break down the language into bite-sized pieces, covering variables, data types, and the other JS concepts we listed above. Utilize fun examples and analogies to make these concepts easily digestible for your child.

Step 3: Hands-On Coding Activities
Learning by doing is crucial for kids. Provide a series of hands-on coding activities designed to reinforce the concepts introduced. These activities can start with one or two concepts, allowing kids to see the immediate results of their code.

Step 4: Put it Together With Engaging Projects
Once kids have a solid grasp on individual concepts, choose a project that puts multiple skills together. Projects like creating a basic website, a simple animation, or an interactive quiz can capture a child’s interest and demonstrate the real-world applications of coding.

Step 5: Add Resources That Reinforce Learning
Curate your own list of JavaScript platforms, games, books, and interactive tutorials specifically for your child. Consider the way they learn best and make sure they are actively engaged.

Step 6: Help Them Overcome Challenges
Acknowledge that learning to code can be challenging, but emphasize the importance of perseverance. Support them in overcoming challenges and utilize educators and online resources to help.

This is the same process we use for students in our coding classes for kids and it works!

Official JavaScript Resources

These official resources provide information and documentation on the JavaScript languages:

What Age Can Kids Learn JavaScript?

Kids can start learning JavaScript as young as 8-10 years old.

Coding truly is like learning a foreign language, and research has shown that younger kids are especially adept at learning new languages.

Since JavaScript is a text-based language, typing skills are important to consider. If your child has good typing skills, JavaScript is a great language to learn. If they struggle with typing, a block-based language like Scratch might be a better place to start their coding journey.

JavaScript for Elementary School (Ages 8-10)

In coding for elementary students, it’s important to focus on the key basics of JavaScript, including variables, functions, and loops. Syntax is also important for this age group, as they need to learn the rules for typing JavaScript correctly. Even kids as young as 8 can use the fundamentals of JavaScript to create simple animated games or websites with interactive features.

JavaScript for Middle School (Ages 11-13)

Coding in middle school can dive further into how JavaScript works with HTML and CSS to create more complex and interactive websites. Advanced functions, intervals, and event handlers allow kids to create interactive games and to control animations within websites and games.

JavaScript for High School (Ages 14-18)

In addition to all of the fundamentals that every student needs to learn about JavaScript, coding in high school can start to utilize libraries like jQuery to make their games and websites even more interactive without needing to code everything individually. This age group can also learn about APIs, which allow two applications to talk to each other seamlessly.

Easy Ways for Your Child to Learn JavaScript

The internet is full of ideas and resources that help young developers master JavaScript. Make sure to consider how your child learns best to determine which resources to use. Easy ways to learn JavaScript for kids include:

JavaScript Coding Games

So many kids get interested in coding because they love to play online games, and JavaScript is used in game development. So learning JavaScript through games is a perfect fit! Both CodeCombat and JSRobot use games to teach the fundamentals of JavaScript.

CodeCombat

CodeCombat is a platform for students to learn computer science and programming skills while playing through a stimulating and real game. It’s an excellent coding game for kids and parents alike who have little to no coding experience. Learn more.

JSRobot

JSRobot is platform game kids can play by coding in JavaScript: They will control a robot to collect coins, avoid obstacles and reach the flag at the end of the level. It’s a fun and simple introduction to JavaScript for kids and beginners. Learn More.

Check out some additional coding games to learn JavaScript for kids.

JavaScript Classes for Kids

If your child learns best with direct instruction, signing them up for a JavaScript class is a great way to ensure they master the fundamentals.

CodeWizardsHQ

All of our coding programs include JavaScript classes and give students the tools they need to create fun games and interactive websites. Enroll in a live, online coding class for kids ages 8-18. Learn more.

JavaScript Projects & Tutorials

Many kids learn best by doing, so finding a simple JavaScript project they can tackle and master can be a great option. Make sure to take your child’s previous coding experience into consideration when choosing a project. Beginners should start with a tutorial that walks kids through every step. Kids who have coded before can try a project that gives more general directions.

Free JavaScript Projects & Tutorials

JavaScript Books for Kids

There are many options available when it comes to books that teach JavaScript. Books not only teach coding concepts without additional screen time, but they’re easy to reference over and over again. This can also be a great option for kids who have an easier time comprehending material when it’s presented on a printed page versus a screen. One of the most popular books is JavaScript for Kids.

JavaScript for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming.

This is a comprehensive book for kids who really want to dig into code. The 17 chapters in this book discuss everything from arrays and other variable types to game programming. This book gives kids more than enough information to get started in building games, making animations, or working with virtual reality. Learn more.

Download JavaScript Projects Source Code

The post JavaScript for Kids: Learn to Code Websites & Games appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Kids guide to 200+ common programming terms and definitions

Margaret Choi — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:04:04 +0000

Online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. Enroll to learn real-world programming languages like Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and more!

Imagine meeting a friend, but when they open their mouth to speak to you, all you hear is gibberish. When you ask them to explain, the explanation sounds like gibberish too.

When you’re hearing new programming terms for the first time, it can easily feel like that! Command-line? An array? Huh?

Kids who learn coding are learning a new language that is complete with its own syntax and vocabulary. While not exactly gibberish, it probably seems like it from the outside. Many of these coding terms, definitions, and concepts can feel as foreign as being on a new planet. So, it’s important to understand and feel comfortable with coding jargon before diving into the written portion.

Code documentation and terminology gives a foundation for how a language works and how specific parts of your code will function. By learning the most common programming terms and concepts, kids can feel confident as they read and learn more about specific languages.

This list of the 200 common programming and coding terms is simplified for kids to be easy to understand. Kids can use it as a reference if they are learning or as a refresher if they’ve already started coding.

Browse Terms: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Abstraction

Simplified code or technology that’s easy to use without knowing how it works.

Active Record

Information in a database that’s presented to a user. This term is common in MVC (Model, View, Controller) development.

Agile Software Development

A process of building software in stages. Work is divided into short bursts called sprints. Separate teams may work on different parts of a project.

AJAX

A method for getting data from a web server that uses XML, JavaScript, and HTML.

Algorithm

A sequence of problem-solving steps. For example: Add a series of values together, and then divide by the number of values. These steps produce a mean or average.

Angular.js

A JavaScript front end framework for building websites. A collection of templates and pre-written code.

Apache

Apache, or Apache HTTP Server, is an open-source and free web server software. Apache had a significant role in the initial growth of the internet and is also the “A” in LAMP Stack.

API

An application programming interface (API) allows interactions between multiple software programs so programmers have access to data and info from external software. The Google Maps API lets people use satellite photos and maps in their own programs.

Apprenticeship

An agreement between an employer and an employee. The apprentice (employee) gets training and pay in exchange for work.

Argument

A number, text string, or other value required for a function to run its code. An argument is the x in f(x) = y.

Arithmetic Operators

These operators are used with numbers to perform basic math, for example “+” for addition. Computers have to add and subtract, multiply and divide to do almost anything.

Array

A single variable that contains a list of data. For example, myNumbers = [0,1,2,3]. Here, myNumbers is an array of numbers.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) is a system for electronic communication. It has 128 numbers that stand for letters and other symbols. ASCII is the same all over the world.

Assignment Operators

An operator that assigns a value to a variable. For example, “=” in Python assigns a value on the right to the variable on the left.

Asynchronous Learning

Learning that may take place at a different time for each student. The material is usually recorded or pre-made.

Asynchronous Programming Languages

A programming language that doesn’t have to do things in the order they are written. Instead, it can do many things at once. For example, JavaScript.

Augmented Reality

Software that puts digital objects on images or videos of the real world. AR (Augmented Reality) is popular on smartphones.

Autonomous

Self-guiding and able to work independently without input from a person. Many drones and some cars are autonomous.

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B

Back End

The server side of the internet that the user can’t see. The back end stores, retrieves, and modifies data, it’s essentially the brains of a website.

Backbone.js

A JavaScript library used mostly for one-page web apps to give structure and handle user input and interactivity.

Binary

A system of two possible states, zero and one. Computers operate in binary, meaning they store data and perform calculations using only zeros and ones.

Binary Alphabet

The numbers 0 and 1.

Binary Numbers

Combinations of zeroes and ones that make up a computer program.

Bit

A single 0 or 1. It’s the smallest unit of information in computing and digital communications.

Block-based Programming Language

A visual programming language. Block-based programming lets users drag and drop blocks of code to make programs (as opposed to writing text). For example, Scratch is a block programming language.

Blockly

A block programming language created by Code.org. It’s used to teach kids how to code.

Boolean

The “true or false” logic that powers computers. The boolean data type has one of two possible values: it’s either true or false.

Bootstrap (aka Twitter Bootstrap)

An open-source framework. A group of templates for building the front end of a website. A large set of HTML files, CSS stylesheets, and JavaScript.

Bug

Broken code that causes a program to malfunction. Bugs often crash a program or make an error message appear.

Build

To build a program is to make it ready for users. Coders may use special tools to create “builds”, or finished applications. First, coding, testing, and debugging must be completed.

Byte

A byte is eight bits. For example, 0000 0001.

C

C++

A powerful programming language. It’s used to build fast programs. C++ is common in computerized electronic devices.

Call (a function)

A snippet of code that makes a function begin.

Call (a variable)

To call a variable is to use it somewhere in a program.

Camel Case

A form of capitalization used for naming variables. The first letter is always lowercase, and the first letter of every word after that is uppercase. For example, “thisVariable” is in camelcase.

Char

An abbreviation of the word “character.” It refers to a single letter, number, or symbol.

Class (HTML and CSS)

The class attribute specifies one or more class names for an HTML element. It’s mostly used to point to a class in a CSS page.

Class (Object Oriented Programming)

A template that defines the qualities of everything that belongs to it. Each member of a class is an object.

Click

To press the button on a computer mouse.

Cloud

A remote data storage location, such as Dropbox. The cloud is a broad term that refers to general internet storage or services.

Code

The written content of a computer program. Code tells the computer what to do, where to store information, and what to show the user.

Code Review

A process of looking through code for mistakes or bugs. Programmers sometimes do code reviews in teams. This increases their ability to find and fix errors.

Coding

The process of writing a computer program. Coding is often the majority of what software engineers do.

Coding Challenge

A problem given to a programmer during a job interview or at school. The programmer must solve it with code, and in the most efficient or effective way possible.

Coding Languages

A human-readable language used to make computer programs. C, Java, and Python are examples of coding languages.

Command

An order the computer must carry out. Copy, Paste, and Print are examples of commands.

Command-line

A computer program that works with text-only input from a user.

Command-line Interface

A text-based way to interact with a computer. There are no buttons, dropdowns, or clickable elements.

Compilation

The procedure that translates code into a format the computer can use. Some programming languages are called compiled languages. They have to be compiled before they can be used.

Compiler

A program that changes text-based code into the code a computer understands. The result is an application, often a .exe file.

Computational Thinking

Reformatting a problem so it becomes solvable by a computer.

Computer Program

A bundle of code that tells a computer what to do. Computer programs do all sorts of things. Some solve math problems. Some play music. Even video games are computer programs.

Computer Science

The ideas that make it possible to solve problems with computers. A computer scientist knows about bits, bytes, code, and memory.

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Conditional Statements

A statement that helps a computer decide what to do next. A condition statement has an If/Then format. For example, If a = 1, then add a to b.

Constants

A number, text string, or symbol that never changes value while a program is running. Variables can increase or decrease in value. But a constant stays the same.

Crowdsourcing

The act of recruiting big groups of people to work on a project. People may work for free or for pay. But everyone contributes to the final goal.

CSS

The code that controls the appearance of a website. This includes things like font styles, colors, and margins. CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets.

Cybersecurity

A field of computing that deals with the safety of anything stored on a computer. The primary goal is to prevent hackers from stealing data or money.

D

Data

Any information that can be stored or used in a computer program. Names, addresses, and phone numbers are data.

Data Science

The science of finding patterns in data with computers. Facebook, Google, and even the government rely on data science. It helps them make better decisions and more useful products.

Data Structures

The formats used to store and organize data in a computer program. Data structures make information as easy to access as possible.

Data Types

The kind of information that a variable or constant can hold. Examples include strings, integers, and booleans.

Database (dbms)

A digital vault that stores information. Databases look like tables in a spreadsheet. A website stores usernames and passwords in a database.

Debugging

The process of looking for and repairing coding errors. Debugging is an important part of software development.

Declaration

A single word or symbol used to describe a function or variable. It defines the type of variable or function so the compiler or interpreter knows what to do with it.

Decompose

To divide a complex challenge into smaller chunks. The goal is to make it easier to solve.

Define (a function)

To create a function and the code that goes inside it. After defining a function, the programmer can call it when needed.

Deployment

The process of launching an application or releasing it to users.

Digital Footprint

Any piece of information you leave on a website. A blog post, a comment, or a “like” can be a digital footprint.

Django

A Python framework for the web. Django makes Python website development easier. It’s a collection of templates and libraries.

DNS (Domain Name Service)

A computer system that turns a written domain name into numbers. These numbers are called an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Computers need IP addresses to find websites.

Double-click

A quick pair of mouse clicks, usually to open an application.

Drag

To press and hold the button on a computer mouse, then move the mouse before releasing.

Drop

To let up on the mouse button after clicking and dragging.

DRY

DRY stands for Don’t Repeat Yourself. This principle states, “Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.”

DSL/Cable

A type of broadband (fast) internet service. It uses phone or coaxial cables.

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E

Else Statements

An alternative inside an If statement. It essentially tells the computer, “Do one thing if something is true, or else do another thing if it’s not true.”

Endless Loop

A loop that never ends because the condition it depends on is always true. An endless loop is a bug. Every loop should end, otherwise, the program would be stuck.

Event

An event is something that triggers a response in a program. For example, a mouse click or a button press.

Event Handler

Code that responds to an event such as a mouse click or button press.

Exception

An error that may be caused by a user or missing piece of data.

Express.js

The backend framework for Node.js. Express is useful for modules and web apps. Developers can build APIs with Express.

Expression

An arithmetic statement such as 1+2 or x-y.

F

F.A.I.L.

An acronym for First Attempt In Learning. Failure is a regular part of the learning process.

Flask

Flask is a backend web framework written in Python. It’s an API of Python that lets us build up web applications quickly and easily without special tools or libraries.

For Loop

A block of code that repeats several times. The programmer must specify the number of times the code should repeat.

Framework

A set of “templates” that programmers use to build programs quickly. Frameworks may contain pre-written code, markup, and APIs. Web frameworks exist for the front end and back end.

Front End

The part of a computer program that a user sees and interacts with. The front end is also called the user interface.

Full Stack Developer

A developer who works on the back end and front end of a website.

Function

A chunk of code that takes input, manipulates it, and produces some kind of output. Programmers create a function just once, but they can use it over and over.

Function Call

A short snippet of code that triggers a function to run. After writing a function, you must call it whenever you want to use it.

Function Definition

The inner workings of a function. The code inside of a function that makes it work.

G

Git

A version control system that tracks changes to code. Git is open-source, meaning you can access it for free.

Github

An internet storage hub for code that works with Git.

H

HAML

HAML (HTML Abstraction Markup Language) is a templating system that cleans and simplifies your HTML. It’s designed to avoid writing inline code in a web document.

Hardcode

Permanent code. Code that a programmer can’t change easily or at all.

High-level Language

A programming language a person can read and understand. Python is a high level language. Machine code (for example, 00000001) is not.

HTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a markup language used to build basic websites. HTML determines what shows up on the page.

HTTP Request

The method a web browser uses to ask for information from a server. HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol.

I

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

A program that developers use to write code. IDEs usually know a language’s keywords and can provide help. They can also run programs.

If Statement

A conditional statement. It executes a certain block of code if some condition is true.

Inheritance

The practice of basing a new piece of code on existing code. Programmers use inheritance to create an enhanced version of the original code.

Input

The information that goes into a computer. User input is one type, which includes text, clicks, and button presses.

IntelliJ

An integrated development environment (IDE) created for writing and running code. To start writing code in Java, you can use IntelliJ.

Internet

The internet is made of many computers and servers that are connected to each other. The web exists on the internet, but the internet is much larger than the world wide web.

IOS Swift

Swift is an Apple programming language. It combines elements from the C and Objective C languages.

IP Address

A number associated with a website or a device on the internet. Printers and computers have IP addresses.

Iteration

One pass of a loop. Each time a block of code is executed counts as one iteration of the for or while loop it belongs to.

J

Java

A programming language developed by Oracle. Java is popular for web and mobile applications.

JavaScript

A popular coding language for websites and web apps. JavaScript runs on the client side. That means it runs in the browser instead of the computer where the website “lives”.

JavaScript Framework

A web framework in JavaScript used to build apps and websites.

jQuery

A JavaScript library that makes it easy to change elements on a webpage.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)

A common data storage format used in many web apps. JSON files keep data organized.

Junior Developer

The first job for many coders. Junior developers work under the guidance of more experienced pros.

K

Keywords

Predefined words in a programming language. These words have a special meaning. In an integrated development environment (IDE), keywords appear in special colors.

L

LAMP Stack

LAMP stack uses Linux operating system, the Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, and the PHP programming language. LAMP stack is a popular open-source web platform used by large web companies like Tesla and Lyft.

Linter

A linter, or lint tool, is a basic static code analyzer that checks your program for potential stylistic and programming errors. You can often find linters in your code editor and they are available for various programming languages today.

Linux

Like Windows, Linux is an operating system. But it’s open-source, so it’s free to use. Linux is popular with developers and runs on most web servers.

Local Environment

A personal computer or a server. This is where coders run programs before launching them. A local environment lets coders see their software in action before showing it to the world.

Loop

A block of code that runs over and over. A loop is an important part of any video game or animation. Loops are present in almost all programs.

Low-level Language

A programming language that isn’t easy for a human to read. Low-level languages make fast computer programs, but they’re difficult to write.

M

Machine Language

Long combinations of zeroes and ones that power a computer. All programs have to get turned into machine language in order to run.

Machine Learning

A form of artificial intelligence where programs have the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience. Image recognition is a common type of machine learning.

Main Function

The first function called after a C or C++ program starts.

Markup Language

A simple language that determines what appears on a computer screen. HTML and XML are markup languages.

MEAN Stack

A complete framework for web development. MongoDB is the M. Express.js is the E. Angular.js is the A. Node.js is the N.

Micro:bit

A tiny computer used in programming courses for kids. The Micro:bit works with lots of sensors and electronic accessories.

MongoDB

A database for web applications. Mongo uses a JSON-like structure instead of rows and columns.

MVC

Used for many kinds of development, MVC is a three-part design pattern. It stands for Model View Controller. Each piece of MVC handles a different part of a program.

MySQL

The most common language used to put info into and take it out of databases. MySQL is often used with another language, like PHP.

N

Neural Networks

A computer program modeled after the human brain. Neural networks learn over time, just like people.

Node.js

Node.js is a programming tool that lets you run JavaScript code outside of a web browser.

Null

Empty or without value. Variables and columns in a database can sometimes be null.

O

Object Oriented Programming (OOP)

Programming with classes and objects. A class is simply a prototype that defines what its objects can do. Every object in the class has the class’s properties.

Object Related Database Management System (ORDBMS)

Two database models in one. It’s part relational database and part object oriented. It has objects and classes as well as tables with rows and columns.

Objects

A member of a class. It might help to think about a real-world analogy. For example, every person is an object that belongs to the class called “humans”.

Online

Connected to the internet. Someone can be online with a computer, a mobile phone, or another electronic device.

Open-Source Software Development

Software that is free for anyone to use. The code for open-source software is available to developers who want to work on it. They can make improvements and add features.

Operand

The variable or value that will be used in an operation. For example, x and y are operands in the x+y.

Operator

An arithmetic symbol such as a plus sign or a minus sign. Or a multiplication sign, division sign, greater than or less than sign.

OS (Operating System)

The software that makes a computer work. It’s responsible for organizing files. An operating system also determines what software can run on the machine.

Output

The content that comes out of a computer. Output may be text or numbers. It could even be sound or video.

P

Package

An organization tool for classes in Java. A package keeps large collections of files neatly ordered.

Packets

A block of information that moves from one computer to another.

Pair Programming

Two coders working together on a project. One person codes while the other watches and checks the code for errors.

Parameter

The input of a function. A parameter gets replaced by an argument when the function is called.

Pattern Matching

The process of looking for identical characters or data in a dataset.

Persistence

When a piece of data, information, or web page remains accessible. Persistent data doesn’t get deleted when you close the program.

PHP

A scripting language frequently used for websites. PHP uses tags like HTML, but a PHP website can do much more and the content can change with user input.

Pixel

The basic unit of digital displays. A pixel is a little square that can be one of many colors. Every image on a screen is made up of hundreds or even thousands of pixels.

Pointer

Like variables, pointers store information. But a pointer contains a memory address instead of data. It “points” to the address somewhere in computer memory.

Postgresql

An open-source database. To store or retrieve something, a programmer can write code in SQL.

Program

Written code that runs on a computer. Most programs consist of user interfaces and logic. Adobe Illustrator is a computer program. So is Microsoft Outlook.

Programming

The process of writing code that will become a computer program.

Programming Language

The keywords and special rules people use to write computer programs. Every language has some of its own rules and keywords, but they also have many things in common.

Project-based Learning

Learning by building real projects. It’s possible to learn just by studying concepts, but project-based learning is designed to be fun and to feel like real development.

Python

An open-source programming language. Python is popular because it’s somewhat easy to learn. Many big applications were made in Python including YouTube and DropBox.

R

A programming language used in data science.

React

A JavaScript library built by Facebook. Its main purpose is to help with user interface (UI) development.

React Native

A type of React that lets developers use the same code for different platforms.

Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)

A program for making and updating databases that use tables.

Repeat

To perform an action more than once.

REST / RESTful

A set of rules that makes it possible for computers to communicate with each other. REST (Representational State Transfer) makes the world wide web possible.

Ruby

Ruby is a programming language designed to be readable. It’s object oriented and useful for all kinds of applications. AirBnB and GitHub were built on Ruby.

Ruby on Rails

Ruby’s full-stack web framework. If you want to build web applications with Ruby, Rails makes it easier.

Run Program

To start a computer program.

Runtime

Runtime is the stretch of time when a computer program is running.

S

SASS

SASS (Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets) is a scripting language that is interpreted into Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). It helps you keep your CSS organized and lets you create style sheets faster.

Scratch

The block programming language developed by MIT. Scratch coding is a great first language for young coders. To build a program, all you need to do is click, drag, and drop blocks into place.

Scripting Language

Any language that doesn’t need to be compiled or interpreted. JavaScript is one example.

Scripts

Small programs that do limited steps. Scripts can be part of bigger programs.

Search Engine

Google, Bing, and Yahoo are search engines. They find websites and information based on keywords provided by the user.

Server

A computer that hosts websites and data. Servers store the information that other people can access on the internet.

Server-side

On the computer that hosts a website instead of on the user’s browser. Sites like WordPress use PHP on the server-side and JavaScript on the client (user) side.

Source Code

The code written by programmers that becomes software. First, the source code has to get translated into machine code by a compiler.

Source Data

The main location where data is used in a program. Source data can be from a database, spreadsheet, or hard-coded. The program can retrieve the data from this source then use it.

Sprint

A period of several days during which a software team works on specific tasks. For each sprint, every member of the team has a certain amount of work to get done.

Sprites

A character or a moving object in a computer game. Sprites respond to button presses, clicks, or other user input.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

The most popular programming language for adding and retrieving information from a relational database.

Stack

Several programs used to build apps for the web or mobile devices. Example stacks are LAMP, WAMP, and MEAN.

Statement

An instruction to a computer written in code. Statements can include text, numbers, and symbols.

Synchronous Learning

Learning that occurs when a student and teacher are online at the same time. This is the kind of learning that happens in CodeWizardsHQ coding classes.

Syntax

The structure of a language. The rules that state in what order words must appear. Each programming language has its own syntax.

T

Teaching Language

The language used in a programming course. For young learners, block languages like Scratch are common. In many courses, Python is the chosen teaching language.

Tensor Flow

A library built by Google for creating neural networks. Tensor flow is open-source.

Terminal

Mac’s text-based user interface. In the terminal, users can open files and folders, move things around, and do many other things.

Token

One word, symbol, or operator in a computer program. A plus sign is a token. In most languages, the word “function” is too.

Training

In machine learning, programs need training. To train a program, you give it as much data as possible. Usually, the more data the better.

U

URL (Universal Resource Locator)

The text you type into your browser to get to a website. URL stands for Universal Resource Locator.

Usability Testing

The process of observing users to make sure your software works as they expect. Usable software is easy for people to work with.

User Experience (UX) Design

The design of interactions between a user and a product. The process of making something fun and easy to use. UX isn’t just for software, but that’s where it started.

User Interface (UI) Design

The process of creating the visual parts of a computer program. This includes the buttons, colors, and icons.

Username

A nickname that you type in when you want to enter a certain website or application.

V

Variable

A container that holds a value, such as a piece of text or a number. The value can change, which is why it’s stored in a variable.

Variable Types

The kind of information a variable can hold. Strings, ints, and lists are variable types in Python.

Version Control

Software that lets coders save several versions of their code. This prevents previous work from getting deleted or lost. It also helps programmers keep track of changes.

W

Website

Several web pages that are linked together and stored on the same server.

While Loop

A bit of code that runs over and over as long as some condition is true. For example, a loop might run while a certain number is less than 6 and stop once it reaches 6.

Whiteboarding

The process of brainstorming collaboratively in person or virtually. Ideas on code, pseudocode, or charts are organized on a physical whiteboard or virtual tool representing a whiteboard.

Wi-Fi

A way to send and retrieve data without wires. Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transfer information.

X

Xcode

An IDE from Apple for developers who want to build software for Apple devices.

XML

A markup language that looks similar to HTML and controls the way information shows up on a screen. But XML files also work outside of web browsers.

Free Coding Terms Flashcards

Practice these coding terms for kids with a free set of printable flashcards. Just print, cut, and fold to get started. Over 200 programming terms are explained just for kids.

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Download free coding terms flashcards

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