When comparing W3Schools vs Codewars, the Slant community recommends Codewars for most people. In the question“What are the best websites to learn to code?” Codewars is ranked 15th while W3Schools is ranked 21st. The most important reason people chose Codewars is:
Algorithms, OOP, functional programming, you name it - there's a challenge class for it and in just about every language.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Easy to learn
All the tutorials are written in a straightforward and easy to understand way.
Pro Built in editor
Almost every example has a "try it yourself" button which opens up an editor in a new tab. It allows you to play with the example code and see how it works.
Pro Well organized tutorials
All of the lessons are separated into their own pages, which makes it easy to learn about specific concepts.
Pro Great source from Google search's perspective
Pro Challenges cover all areas of programming
Algorithms, OOP, functional programming, you name it - there's a challenge class for it and in just about every language.
Pro Submit your own challenges
If you think you have a good idea for a challenge that could be added to the dojo then go add it and get feedback.
Pro Multi-language support
Users can complete code challenges in over 12 different languages.
Pro Learning gamification
Get points and increase your level by completing coding challenges.
Pro Free
Codewars is completely free to use.
Cons
Con Outdated practices / problem solutions
The practices that are shown to solve the problems at hand are rarely, if at all, updated. Usually, their tutorials and learning material is updated only after they see their profits drop.
Con Doesn't care about teaching right
There are multiple errors in the data they show. Although the solutions they show work, they will lead to unmaintainable code. That happens even when the maintainable code alternatives are as easy or accessible to new programmers as the alternatives.
Con Certifications not recognized
Many professionals in IT agree that w3s certifications are not recognized by them and are deemed useless. Good luck finding any respectable professional that accepts a w3s certification.
Con It is for profit
What defines what goes is and what gets fixed on w3schools is what gives them profit and what doesn't (through their ads system).
Con Written tutorials only
While many learning resources offer a mixture of media in their courses (such as videos, challenges etc.), w3schools offers only written tutorials and code editors. This makes w3schools more beneficial as a quick reference rather than a primary learning resource.
Con Require some coding knowledge
You require some coding knowledge to get an account with code wars. The topics are limited
