61+ Coding Facts - Things to Know

Technology is rapidly taking over the world and has become an essential part of our modern lives. Every day, we interact with technology in more ways than we can imagine, and learning computer programming, especially at a young age, exposes you to the advanced world of technologies, as well as the numerous perks of coding.

Beyond the present, coding is essential for the future. It is centered around real-world problems, and the deeper the knowledge you have about coding, the better you are at solving these problems. Contrary to what many believe, coding for kids is simple, interactive, and fun. Kids can now learn as many programming languages as they want, without the fear of comprehension and feeling burnt out.

Anyone can code. Really, anyone can code. Everyone should learn about coding and programming languages, whether or not they make a career out of it. Computer programming is super broad and new inventions, formulas, theories, and methodologies are discovered every day. There are many facts about coding you and your kids should know, and this article highlights several general coding facts, fun coding facts, inspirational coding facts, and other inspirational coding facts for your kids.

Overview of Coding Facts

Coding impacts all areas of your life, and it improves your logical thinking, algorithmic thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and cognitive abilities, all of which are essential to daily living.

Coding facts are broad, and I have grouped these facts into categories for ease of access and better understanding for your kids. These include:

General facts about coding
Interesting coding facts
Inspiration coding facts kids should know
Fun facts about coding
Beginner coding facts
Amazing coding facts for kids

If you want to satisfy your curiosity about coding; its invention, discovery, purpose, and other benefits, then you are in for a treat! Grab a popcorn and some sticky notes, and discover these mind-blowing coding facts you never thought possible.

General Facts About Coding

Here are some general facts about coding your kids should know.

The first ever computer programmer was a woman.

Shocking, right? In 1843, Ada Lovelace, a mathematician, translated an Italian article on the Analytical Engine. She included an algorithm and a detailed explanation of the process, and she was recognized as the first computer programmer ever.

Who said girls can’t code?

Coding has over 700 languages.

Did you know??? There are over 700 existing programming languages, all of which are in use. This surpasses most human languages per country. Some programming languages, like Kotlin and Rust, are used in highly specific situations, but most programming languages are dynamic and are useful across numerous situations.

The analytical computer

Although there were several mathematical machines and computers, Charles Babbage’s Analytical computer was considered the first programmable computer.

The first programmable language

The first programming language is the FORTRAN programming language, while the first high-level programming language was Plankalkul.

Ten Interesting Coding Facts for Kids

Here are 10 interesting coding facts your kids will love.

Coding is all 0’s and 1’s. All computer programming languages are written in binary code, which is a combination of 0’s and 1’s. Do you want to learn to code faster? Learn the binary digits.
The first computer game was invented in 1961. Video games are highly essential to children, and thanks to Steve Russell and his team who created the Spacewar video game, we can now access millions of incredible video games today.
Speaking about computer programming icons, the CAPTCHA test which detects robots from humans was developed by Alan Turing. It was popularly known as “the Turing test.
The first computer virus was created by a 15-year-old. Shocking right? In 1982, the 15-year-old lad made history when he “playfully” created the computer virus that made history.
There is a programming language called “Go”, and it was designed by Google.
Speaking about programming languages, the Python language was actually named after Monty Python, and not after a real Python snake.
Oak was the name intended for the Java programming language, but it was already used and copyrighted.
The video game generated about $135 billion in revenue.
Astronomers can code. Astronomers use a variety of programming languages, and knowledge of coding is a criterion for becoming an astronomer.
According to the Popularity of the Programming Language Index, Python is the most widely used programming language in the world.

Ten Inspiration Coding Facts Kids Should Know

At the age of 6, Kautilya Katariya bagged the Guinness world record as the youngest programmer in the world. He created Artificial Intelligence applications at such a young age. Again, who said kids can’t code?
Apollo Moon Landing Mission: The American computer scientist, Margaret Hamilton, wrote the incredible code that saved the Apollo moon landing mission. You can also become a superhero through coding!
Alan Turing, a renowned mathematician, was among the top individuals who helped end World War II. Through coding, Alan Turing was able to decode the enigma machine used by the Nazis to protect and strengthen their military signals.
The first computer game yielded no financial returns, but today, the computer and video games rank top among the top commercial successful inventions.
Coding has one of the highest-paying jobs ever. Do you want to make cool money? Consider coding!
In 2020, Avi Schiffmann, an American teenager, developed one of the largest COVID-19 tracking websites, ncov2019.live/data.
The first programmable, electronic, and general-purpose computer, ENIAC, was operated by six women.
Computer programmers are smarter. Studies show that programming develops cognitive abilities, including algorithmic thinking, critical thinking, teamwork, and creative thinking, among others.
Programming is important. Without coders, the world would be boring, unhealthy, and difficult to live in.
Many large tech company owners started with video games. They channeled their love for video games into what would make them billionaires and influencers. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founders, are perfect examples of this.

Fun Facts About Coding

Here are additional fun facts about coding you should know:

You do not have to be in tech to be a coder. Coding is no respecter of discipline, and anyone can code.
Prominent billionaire and Microsoft’s co-founder, Bill Gates, developed the Tic-Tac-Toe computer game that allows people to compete against the computer.
The famous term for computer bugs was named after a real-life bug, and the first person to use the term was Thomas Edison.
The C programming language had a predecessor called B. The B coding language was birthed by Ken Thompson in 1969.
Speaking about the C coding language is also recognized as the oldest programming language.
It required significantly less code to send a man to space than to program a smartphone.
Apple Inc. became the first US trillion-dollar corporation in 2018.

Beginner Coding Facts for Kids

Many computer programmers started coding before they graduated from high school.
Python is the simplest language for kids to learn, and it is also the most popular.
Learning how to code develops your problem-solving abilities, critical and analytical reasoning skills, and creative abilities.
Coding will soon be as important as reading. So, the earlier you learn to code, the better for you. Studies also show that up to 70% of coding jobs are unrelated to tech. This means that coding is dynamic and you can apply your knowledge to any subject!
The most complex and disliked programming languages are Delphi, Pearl, and DVA.
The first ever computer virus was called the creeper. It emerged in 1971, and it was intended for research purposes only.
An average coder writes 10-12 lines of code every day.
Many elementary pupils choose to learn coding over other second languages, like French or Spanish.
The youngest coder became a Microsoft professional at 6 years old, and his name is Muhammad Hamzat Shahzad.
Computers store data using binary numbers.

Amazing Coding Facts for Kids

Here are amazing coding facts for kids:

NASA still runs some of its projects on programming languages from the 70s.
An average Java programmer’s annual income is $84,000. Cool, right?
The Pascal programming language is named after the famous mathematician, Blaise Pascal, and it was designed by Niklaus Wirth.
In 2009, Markus Personn invented and developed the Minecraft game, which he later sold to Microsoft for $2.5 billion.
Java and JavaScript are entirely different and created independently, contrary to public opinion.
Python, C++, Java, C#, and JavaScript are the most common languages used for game development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is coding important for kids?

Coding is very important, especially for kids, as it helps improve their problem-solving skills, enhances their cognitive and critical thinking, and it places them on a higher pedestal, compared to their non-coding friends. Coding sharpens the brain, and kid coders have proven to be highly efficient in other aspects of their lives as well.

How do you motivate kids to code?

There are numerous ways parents can motivate their kids to code, but the most proven efficient methods are showing them the possibilities of what they can achieve with coding, enrolling them in coding boot camps and courses, buying coding gifts for them, etc.

Final Thoughts On Coding Facts Kids Should Know

Programming is interesting, broad, and has significant historical roots. These facts are there to serve as a source of motivation for kids and to help them understand the coding culture, background, and diverse histories.