I'd like to start learning programming on my own because I really like the idea of web development. I've watched some tutorials on YouTube but I'm not sure where to start. What would you recommend as my first language?
Python is definitely perfect for starting from zero because the syntax is super readable and intuitive, like when you watch a TV series and you immediately get the plot without needing complicated explanations.
I'd suggest you follow a structured course on platforms like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp instead of jumping from one YouTube tutorial to another, because that way you learn progressively and don't get lost along the way.
Once you've grasped the basics (variables, loops, functions) maybe do some small projects that interest you, even simple stuff like a calculator or a basic game, because that's where you really understand how it works.
If you want to do web development, then you move on to learning HTML and CSS along with a framework like Django or Flask for Python, but not at the beginning otherwise you'll needlessly complicate things for yourself.
Python is genuinely the best to start with, it's super logical and readable so it won't drive you crazy while you're learning the basics. i'd tell you to find a structured course like on Codecademy or freeCodeCamp (they're free and interactive), because YouTube videos alone are kinda chaotic when you're starting from scratch. once you've got the basics down you can do small projects like automating stuff on your pc or making simple scripts, that way you actually learn instead of just watching people code. and if you want to do web development later, python with Flask or Django is perfect for the backend so you're already going in the right direction.
I agree that Python is a solid choice to get started, but I want to add something that often gets underestimated: choosing the language isn't enough, you need to understand clearly *what* you want to do with web development because the path changes quite a bit. If you want to do backend, Python with Django or Flask is perfect. If you want to do frontend, you'll end up having to learn JavaScript anyway, so maybe starting directly with that could make sense too. That said, if you want a less frustrating progression, Python is definitely more forgiving for people starting from scratch.
As for study method, forget about random YouTube tutorials with no logical thread. Find yourself a structured course (like the ones on Codecademy, freeCodeCamp or even Udemy if you pick one with good reviews) that guides you step by step from basic concepts to something concrete. What bugs me is when people start programming without doing exercises: you need to *write code*, not just watch. And make mistakes. A lot. It's the only way to actually understand what's happening.
Once you know the basics of Python (variables, loops, functions, maybe a bit of OOP), you can start getting your hands dirty with real stuff like a small web project. At that point you'll see if backend actually interests you or if you'd rather do something else. Anyway, don't expect to get good in a few months: programming is a skill you build over time, and in 2026 like it's been for the last 16 years, it's always been that way.
The most important trick is to stop watching tutorials and start breaking the code as soon as possible - I learned more from one week of errors than from two months of videos!
Pick a tiny project that actually interests you (like a simple bot, a web scraper, something concrete), follow the Python basics on a structured course like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp for max a week, and then jump straight into the project by searching for every single solution on Google and Stack Overflow as you build it. The other guys are right that Python is perfect to start with, but the real magic happens when you stop being a passive spectator!
One thing nobody's mentioned: watch out for getting trapped in endless tutorials, because it's way too easy to watch course after course without ever writing actual code. Better to learn the basics (variables, loops, functions) and then get your hands dirty right away with small projects, like a script that scrapes data from a website or a simple game, rather than just watching someone code.
What actually saves you real time is skipping those long mega-courses and jumping straight into a concrete project - like a simple site with Flask or Django - so you learn Python not in the abstract but by solving actual problems. YouTube tutorials are fine for the basics, but you've got to combine them with official documentation (Python's is pretty good) and especially with a ton of trial-and-error; mistakes teach you more than a hundred perfect videos. People who recommend Codecademy are right that it's structured, but if you want to actually get into web development it's way better to jump into real projects as soon as you can instead of spending months on abstract exercises - writing crappy code that works teaches you more than perfect syntax in a sandbox.
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