Jim Dan Hill Library: Computer Science: Online Resources

Subject Databases

Please see our Computer Science Subject Databases for content specific to this area.

Databases are collections of content, such as journals, articles, and more. Review the description of the database contents in order to select the "best" database for your project. You may see multiple databases with the same name, but they are not duplicates. They contain content from different vendors.

Not all items in a database will be listed in the library catalog, so the database itself will need to be searched. Please note that while we have access to hundreds of thousands of online materials, there may be instances where you see an item in a database that we don't have access to. In those instances, you can take the information for that item and submit an interlibrary loan (ILL) request.

One of the great things about database searches is that it will populate related search terms as you type in the search box. Take advantage of those suggestions to broaden or narrow your search. We also recommend using the "Full Text" filter. This will update your results to show complete items and remove results that are just abstracts or descriptions of a full article that isn't available.

Featured Open Access Books

Think Java
Think Java is a free, beginner-friendly textbook that introduces the fundamentals of Java programming through clear explanations and practical examples. Designed for new programmers, it focuses on developing problem-solving skills and understanding core programming concepts.
Think Python (2nd edition)
Think Python (2nd Edition) is a free, introductory textbook that teaches the basics of Python programming with an emphasis on clear thinking and problem-solving. It’s ideal for beginners and covers fundamental concepts like functions, loops, data structures, and object-oriented programming.
Think C/C++
Think C is a free, beginner-level textbook that introduces the C programming language through practical examples and step-by-step instruction. It’s designed to help new programmers build a strong foundation in programming logic and C syntax.

Other Online Resources

Computer science is a very broad field that is constantly changing and evolving. These are some other resources freely available on the Web:

GitHub
GitHub is a web-based platform used for version control and collaborative software development, allowing users to host, review, and manage code projects using Git. It’s widely used by developers, researchers, and students to share code, contribute to open-source projects, and collaborate on programming tasks.
Replit
Replit is an online coding platform that allows users to write, run, and collaborate on code directly from a web browser. It supports multiple programming languages and is ideal for learning, prototyping, and sharing code without needing to install software locally.
W3C
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the main international standards organization for the web, developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth and accessibility of the internet. It provides authoritative resources on web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and accessibility standards.
Java Documentation
Repository of Java documentation
Microsoft C/C++ Documentation
Repository of Microsoft C/C++ documentation
Microsoft C# Documentation
Repository of Microsoft C# documentation