Five free references every web developer should bookmark
Five free references that cover browser support, web standards, performance and learning paths, and are worth bookmarking for any web developer.
Good references save more time than any shortcut. These five sites are free, widely used, and cover most of the questions that come up while building for the web.
1. MDN Web Docs
MDN Web Docs is the reference for HTML, CSS, JavaScript and browser APIs. Use it when you need the exact behavior of a method, a property or an element, along with examples and compatibility notes.
2. web.dev
web.dev publishes guides on performance, accessibility and modern web practices. It is a good place to learn what to measure and how to fix it, rather than only how a feature works.
3. Can I use
Can I use shows browser support for web features in a clear table. Check it before relying on a newer CSS or JavaScript feature, so you know whether you need a fallback.
4. roadmap.sh
roadmap.sh offers visual roadmaps for developer roles and technologies. It helps when you are deciding what to learn next and in which order.
5. The Next.js documentation
The Next.js documentation is the official source for routing, rendering, data fetching and deployment in Next.js. When a tutorial and the docs disagree, trust the docs for the version you use.
How they work together
A simple routine covers most situations: look up the feature on MDN, check support on Can I use, read the best practices on web.dev, and confirm framework-specific details in the framework's own documentation. Keep roadmap.sh for planning your learning rather than for day-to-day lookups.