Which Language Should I Learn to Build a Website in 2025? HTML? PHP?
Today, we're exploring the answer to the question, "I want to build a website, but which language should I learn?" Yes, I answered this question five years ago, but I still get asked a lot. Because as the world of web development expands, so do the options.
00:00 Introduction
00:46 HTML
01:48 CSS
02:49 JavaScript
03:47 React
04:51 Backend
06:21 Full Stack Developer
08:09 Poetry
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, SQL, MongoDB... The worst part is that they all seem "required" in some way. But don't panic. In this video, I'll explain in clear language what you need to learn and why, the order in which you should proceed, along with the strengths and weaknesses of each framework. You'll be left with no questions. I'll even recite a poem at the end of the video :) If you're ready, let's get started.
HTML: Where It All Began
The first stop on the web is always HTML. Because every page you see online is actually written with the tags of a language we call HTML.
A title is defined by an h1, a paragraph by a p, a button by a button. Browsers—Chrome, Firefox, Safari, whatever you call it—read the HTML, interpret it, and present it to us as an image.
CSS – The Code Form of Beauty
Let's say we've roughly created the page with HTML. Headings, buttons, and paragraphs are in place. Right now, we have a house with walls built but not painted. That paint, that light, that design is what provides it: CSS.
CSS adds aesthetic value to websites. What will the font be, what color will the button be, will the corners be rounded, will the menu be on the right or centered? It's all determined by CSS. And this structure is very fun for small projects. You can simply type color: red and see the results instantly. But as the site grows... things get more complex.
JavaScript – Where We Add Intelligence and Function to the Web.
Now our page is both structured and painted. But something is still missing: life. The user clicks the button, but there's no response. They fill out the form, but there's no validation.
This is where what makes a site interactive, what makes it live, comes into play: JavaScript, the brain of the web.
It can be a little intimidating at first. Because it's not flat like HTML; it's packed with logic. There are conditions, loops, events. It's unforgiving if you make a mistake, because it won't work. But once you start learning, especially as you code small interactions, that magical feeling comes: "Wow! I pressed it, it worked!"
React – The New Standard of the Modern Web
Let's say you've mastered JavaScript. Now you can click things, retrieve data, and make dynamic changes within the page. But as things get bigger, like when you try to build an e-commerce website, writing everything by hand becomes a pain.
The code becomes repetitive, the page structure becomes complex, and you're left scratching your head, thinking, "Damn it!" That's where React comes in.
We've built the website, beautified it, and added functionality. But if a user wants to buy something, log in, or leave a comment, that information needs to go somewhere. That place is the server. And what manages this part is the structure we call the backend.
If the frontend is the visible part of the screen, you can think of the backend as the engine running behind the scenes.
Node.js, Express.js, PHP, Python, Go… No matter which language you use, the goal is the same:
Receive the data submitted by the user, process it, store it, and retrieve it when necessary. This is where databases come into play. Where will user information be stored? Where will order history be stored? The answer: database systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB.
The strength of the backend is this: It carries the logic. But it also has a weakness: You don't see the results immediately when you write code.
If someone can learn and use all the structures we've mentioned, we call them a full-stack developer.
They know both the frontend and the backend. They create the visual design, establish the database connection, design the form, write the API, and process the submitted data. Being such a person isn't easy. It takes time.
But being able to complete a single project from start to finish… that's where the real power lies.
Sometimes people belittle full-stack developers by saying they "know a little bit of everything," but the truth is, the winner isn't the one who just claims to know, but the one who actually does the project.
And this path is built piece by piece. That is, it's learned patiently, step by step.
But it's important to stop here and be clear: Becoming a true full-stack developer isn't something you can achieve with a bootcamp, a YouTube playlist, or a few weeks of "study." It's a mindset that grows over time.
One day, a problem you experienced on the front end will be solved for you on the back end three months later. This experience accumulates over the years.
Because a full-stack developer isn't someone who knows everything all at once. They're s...