Start here: no coding needed

Never written code? Words like "server" or "JSON" sound strange? This track is for you. We start from zero and explain every new word.

Why begin here

The rest of the Academy is about identity and security. That means proving who you are and keeping thieves out. It all uses a few simple ideas. Learn these first.

The journey

We follow one question. What happens when you open a website and sign in? We take it one small piece at a time.

1. How the web works — how a page travels to your screen.
2. HTTP basics — the ask-and-answer language of websites.
3. State & sessions — why a site forgets you, and how it remembers.
4. APIs & JSON — how apps ask each other for data.
5. Encoding vs encryption — packing data is not locking it.
6. Keys, locks & the padlock — what the padlock promises.
7. What a token looks like — the signed badge you get after sign-in.
8. Passwords done right — why good sites never keep your password.
9. Spotting phishing — how to tell a fake message or login page.
10. Cheat sheet & pop quiz — the whole track on one page, then five questions.

How to use it

Read one lesson at a time. Each one is short. Your progress is saved in your browser. You do not need an account. Most lessons have a small lab. Nothing you do in a lab leaves your screen. There is no clock, so take breaks and read anything twice.

Begin with how the web works. When you finish this track, Foundations picks up where you stop.