If you're just starting your journey into web development, you've probably felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of tutorials, courses, and resources available online. After working through several chapters of Interneting is Hard, I can confidently say this is hands-down the best free resource for learning HTML and CSS fundamentals.

What Makes Interneting is Hard Special?

Created by Oliver James, Interneting is Hard isn't just another tutorial—it's a comprehensive, beautifully designed course that treats beginners with respect. The tagline "HTML & CSS Is Hard (But it doesn't have to be)" perfectly captures the philosophy: acknowledging that web development can be challenging while providing the tools to make it approachable.

Visual Learning at Its Best

What sets this tutorial apart is its incredible use of visual aids. The course features over 250 custom diagrams that break down complex concepts into digestible, visual explanations. Instead of struggling to build mental models from text alone, you get clear, colorful illustrations that show exactly how CSS selectors work, how the box model functions, and how flexbox layouts behave.

Take their CSS Selectors chapter, for example. Rather than just explaining how selectors target HTML elements, they provide beautiful diagrams that visualize the connection between your CSS rules and the HTML they affect. This visual approach makes abstract concepts concrete and memorable.

Hands-On Philosophy

The tutorial follows a refreshingly practical approach: you'll rarely read more than a paragraph or two without writing actual code. Each concept is immediately reinforced with hands-on examples and exercises. Whether you're learning about basic web pages or diving into responsive design, you're constantly building real projects that demonstrate the concepts in action.

The flexbox chapter exemplifies this perfectly. Instead of just explaining flexbox properties, you actually move boxes around the screen, seeing immediate visual feedback for every CSS property you learn. This approach keeps you engaged and helps solidify your understanding through practice.

Comprehensive Coverage of Modern Techniques

The curriculum covers everything you need to build professional-quality websites, including:

What's particularly valuable is that the tutorial focuses on modern best practices. You're not learning outdated techniques—you're getting the same approaches used by professional web developers today.

Real-World Context

Beyond just teaching syntax, the tutorial provides crucial context about when and why you'd use different techniques. This isn't just a reference manual—it's a guide that helps you develop good judgment as a developer. You'll understand not just how to use flexbox, but when it's the right choice over other layout methods.

Meticulously Designed Learning Experience

The attention to detail in this tutorial is remarkable. The example projects are carefully crafted to introduce one new concept at a time while building on previous knowledge. The progression feels natural and never overwhelming, taking you from absolute beginner to confident web developer.

The writing is clear, friendly, and occasionally humorous without being condescending. The authors clearly respect their audience and understand that learning to code is challenging enough without poor explanations adding to the confusion.

Completely Free and Accessible

Perhaps most importantly, the entire tutorial is completely free. As the creators note, "Nobody should have to pay to start learning how to program, especially if they're not sure whether or not they actually want to become a web developer." This commitment to accessibility makes high-quality web development education available to anyone with an internet connection.

Perfect for Self-Paced Learning

The tutorial is structured perfectly for self-directed learning. Each chapter builds logically on the previous ones, but you can also jump to specific topics if you need to refresh your knowledge in particular areas. The consistent format and clear navigation make it easy to find what you need when you need it.

"This tutorial is the only introduction to web development that you'll ever need. Over a dozen chapters cover every aspect of crafting a quality web page, thousands of code examples explain each HTML element and CSS property, and a textbook worth of words provide important real-world context."

My Recommendation

Whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to fill gaps in your HTML and CSS knowledge, I wholeheartedly recommend Interneting is Hard. The combination of clear explanations, beautiful visual aids, hands-on exercises, and modern best practices makes it an invaluable resource.

The tutorial respects your time and intelligence while providing the depth needed to truly understand web development fundamentals. In a world full of rushed, superficial coding tutorials, this stands out as a thoughtful, comprehensive resource that will serve you well throughout your web development journey.

You can start your journey at internetingishard.netlify.app. Trust me—your future self will thank you for choosing such a well-crafted learning resource.