How to Learn Bootstrap: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Responsive Websites

If want to learn front end web development, you need to utilize the tools of the trade. One of the more prominent tools in web development is Bootstrap.

Any front end web developer has, at one point in their career, used Bootstrap and recommended it to beginners. The good news is that it’s easy to learn Bootstrap. The even better news is that we’re here to guide you through the process.

At Computer Science Hero, we understand the importance of a step-by-step beginner’s guide to learning new technology. In this article, we will provide just that and more.

At the end of this article, you will know what Bootstrap is, its uses, and the best courses you can take to learn it.

What Is Bootstrap?

Bootstrap, formerly known as Twitter Blueprint, is an open-source framework used by front end developers to create responsive websites and web apps. This means websites and applications that translate well across multiple devices.

Think of the times when you opened a website on your laptop and then on your phone, and the layout remained the same with minimal resizing and navigation. That’s a responsive website, and that’s exactly what Bootstrap helps create.

Bootstrap consists of CSS and HTML elements, as well as JavaScript plugins, that are behind the platform’s great user interface features. These lend to a website’s efficient layout, forms, buttons, and clear navigation. The best part of it is you can access all Bootstrap’s features for free.

The platform’s latest release is the Bootstrap 5 beta, which offers many bankable features. Be it improved API, RTL support, better grid systems, or infrastructure tests in Jasmine, you can now access all of these on Bootstrap 5 beta.

What Is Bootstrap Used For?

Bootstrap is a popular framework used by over 42,799 companies. Among them are major companies like Twitter, LinkedIn, Udemy, Spotify, Lyft, and Robinhood. Its popularity lies in the comprehensive features the framework offers. At the top of the list are Bootstrap’s responsiveness, flexibility, and markup language frameworks.

If you are looking for an easy, efficient, and credible way of developing web applications, then Bootstrap is a great go-to. Below are other reasons why companies use Bootstrap.

Bootstrap Removes Cross-Browser Issues 

Cross-browser compatibility issues are very common if the right sets of code aren’t imputed. If these occur, your application won’t be displayed identically across all web browsers. Bootstrap avoids this with its ability to support all modern browsers, from Chrome and Firefox to Internet Explorer and Safari.

Bootstrap Offers Extensive UI Elements

The Bootstrap framework gives you access to many sought-after features of the top markup languages. You get to use CSS, JavaScript, HTML, and JQuery to enhance your user interaction elements. This is one of the main reasons developers use Bootstrap.

As mentioned, Bootstrap allows you to create responsive and highly interactive pages. You can find comprehensive tools surrounding Sass and LeSS in this framework. If you are looking to design a fast-paced UI developed application, using Bootstrap can be good practice.

Bootstrap Is a Time-Saving Tool  

Bootstrap is extremely popular among developers for its ability to reduce the time it takes to develop websites. Bootstrap provides ready-made blocks of code that you can use and customize according to your application needs. This allows you to develop a front end web page quickly without worrying about writing a code from scratch.

Bootstrap also offers developers a centralized development codebase that allows for consistency and a shorter creation process. By using the centralized base, more than one developer can collaborate on a project while maintaining consistency across all web browsers.

Learn Bootstrap: Step-by-Step

There are plenty of resources online that you can use to learn Bootstrap. Plenty. So, we thought providing you with a guide will help you master the framework faster. Below is a step-by-step beginner’s guide to learn Bootstrap.

1. Learn the Core Programming Languages 

Without having a good understanding of markup and structural languages, you won’t be able to use Bootstrap. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features are used in the platform. So, start by learning these languages that make up the framework.

Fortunately, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are among the easiest programming languages to learn. There are also plenty of resources where you can learn to code for free.

2. Explore Bootstrap Applications

The next step is to explore Bootstrap applications and features. Bootstrap is open-source and free so use this to your advantage and find out everything you can about it. Watch Bootstrap tutorials, read our article, and read Bootstrap books to learn more.

3. Enroll in Bootstrap Courses 

For most people, structured learning works best. Enroll in any of the numerous Bootstrap courses found online. Make sure to take courses that offer plenty of interactive sessions and provide certifications upon completion. Getting certified is a great way to demonstrate your skills to prospective employers.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice

There’s no other way to master Bootstrap than, well, using Bootstrap. You can get started on the official Bootstrap page. Practice until using it feels as easy as browsing through a website. Join the various online communities dedicated to this framework. You can join Bootstrap’s Slack room, subscribe to the official Bootstrap blog, and follow its official Twitter page.

5. Build a Website Using Bootstrap

Up the ante and start building websites with Bootstrap. Reach out to clients on freelancing websites or even friends and family who are looking to build a website. Use your Bootstrap skills to build the perfect website and add that impressive project to your portfolio.

The Best Bootstrap Courses

With Bootstrap being one of the popular front-end frameworks out there, it’s little wonder why there are plenty of Bootstrap courses you can take to master the framework. Below we have listed the best Bootstrap courses you can learn from to take your web design to the next level.

Portfolio Builder for Beginners Using Bootstrap

Offered by Coursera, this course will teach you how to use Bootstrap features and applications to develop webpages. You will learn about the fundamentals of web development, including CSS, HTML, and the ins and outs of Bootstrap.

The course provides a step-by-step guide of the entire Bootstrap development process which you can follow to create responsive websites. By the end of this course, you’ll have built a portfolio of websites.

WordPress Theme Development with Bootstrap

This Udemy course offers 12 hours of on-demand video that will teach you how to develop WordPress themes using Bootstrap. You will learn how to:

• transform CSS and HTML static websites to WordPress themes 
• create dynamic websites using Bootstrap and its languages
• use PHP to build advanced custom fields and websites
  
  

This is a great course that will help you start a freelancing career in web development and web design.

Bootstrap 4: All Classes

W3schools.com offers this comprehensive list of Bootstrap-related classes. You will learn how to navigate all Bootstrap elements, including the button groups, alerts, progress bars, dropdowns, collapse, toast, and media objects. You will also learn how to execute codes to develop responsive pages. The lessons focus on teaching you the 4th version of Bootstrap.

Bootstrap 4 From Scratch With Five Projects

This Udemy course features techniques and sources needed to build projects with BS4. We recommend this course to anyone who has taken a theoretical course on Bootstrap and wants to put their knowledge to the test. You will learn to create in-depth BS4 themes and user interactions.

You will also learn techniques involved in the HTML5 and CSS3 semantics. The course will teach you JS widgets and how to compile a Sass using a GUI on a sandbox environment. You can take this course for $129.99.

Bootstrap 4 With Sass

Offered by LinkedIn’s Lynda platform, this course teaches you how to work with Sass using Bootstrap 4. You will be introduced to all the steps required to install and start working on BS4. You’ll also learn to install libraries and fonts, customize the BS4 framework, and configure Sass variables.

Learn Bootstrap

Codecademy.com is a great site to visit for all things IT. This course sheds light on the importance of Bootstrap in the development world and why you should learn it. You’ll learn about the foundations, components, and features of Bootstrap.

You’ll also learn how to develop complex layouts using Bootstrap’s grid system. You need to have some working knowledge of HTML and CSS, especially CSS selectors and visual rules, before taking the course.

Complete Bootstrap 4 Course- Build 3 Projects 

Offered by Udemy, this course teaches you the techniques that will help you enhance your portfolio and knowledge of BS4. You will learn how to build responsive web pages using BS4. This is a free beginner’s course that will help you understand Bootstrap concepts and put your learning into practice.

Bootstrap 4 Quick Start: Code Modern Responsive Websites

Because we know that learning is so much better when it’s free, here’s another Udemy course offered for free. In this course, you’ll learn how to code a modern responsive website using the updated features of Bootstrap 4.

By the end of the course, you will be able to install and compile Sass and build a successful and modern landing page. We highly recommend this course for anyone new to BS4.

Is Learning Bootstrap Right for You?

As companies move online, having great websites and apps that provide a seamless user experience has become extremely important. This is where Bootstrap comes in. Bootstrap allows front-end and full-stack web developers to create web pages that are easy to navigate and use.

The best thing about Bootstrap is that it doesn’t take long to learn. And with this article to guide you, you’ll master the tool in no time. If you want to become a front end web developer, then learning Bootstrap is a must.