There are myriad of free ebooks available for web designers and developers over internet. All you have to do is a simple web search on any web topic, you will find bunch of books that have been completely written on the particular subject either free or paid.
Developers and designers always look for fresh and useful resources which can serve their purposes by saving efforts and simplifying their web related tasks. In this article we are rounding up excellent and handy collection of 30 free e-books for designers and developers that would help them to sort out their designing and development related issues. All of the 30 books in this post are completely FREE and can be either downloaded in digital format (PDF) or viewed as a web page (HTML). We hope that following free ebooks would help you to learn some new techniques and help in mastering your own area of expertise. Enjoy!
1. Essential JavaScript & jQuery Design Patterns
Design patterns are reusable solutions to commonly occurring problems in software development and are a very useful tool to have at your disposal. This book explores design patters for intermediate JavaScript developers and can be quite useful.
2. Web Accessibility Checklist by Aaron Cannon
Written by Aaron Cannon, blind web developer and accessibility consultant. He believes that this list is not the perfect solution, nor is it the only solution, but believes it is a good first step, and it gives our developers and designers a place to start from.
3. Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML
It covers almost everything which is required to learn HTML, CSS and XHTML, a useful and handy book for html developers.
4. Writing Maintainable CSS
This ebook elaborates p-front planning, loose coupling between CSS and markup, pre-empting browser bugs and overall robustness, and also describes a number of tricks used to preempt maintainability issues.
5. HTML5 WTF
From Simon Schoeters, the author: Yet another overview of the changes introduced by HTML5. How does it look like? What is sexy? What is sexy? This presentation, that’s what.
6. HTML and XHTML the Definitive Guide
HTML is changing so fast it’s almost impossible to keep up with developments. XHTML is HTML 4.0 rewritten in XML; it provides the precision of XML while retaining the flexibility of HTML. HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide,4th Edition, brings it all together. It’s the most comprehensive book available on HTML and XHTML today. It covers Netscape Navigator 6.0, Internet Explorer 5.0, HTML 4.01, XHTML 1.0, JavaScript, Style sheets, Layers, and many more.
7. Dive into HTML5
Dive Into HTML 5 is an ongoing book that seeks to elaborate on a hand-picked Selection of features from the HTML5 specification and other fine Standards.
8. jQuery Fundamentals
This book provides you an overview of the jQuery, JavaScript library; when you’re done with the book, you should be able to complete basic tasks using jQuery, and have a solid basis from which to continue your learning.
9. Data Structure and Algorithms
This book written by Granville Barnett and Luca Del Tongo is part of an effort to provide all developers with a core understanding of algorithms that operate on various common, and uncommon data structures.
10. Foundation of Ajax
The expert’s Voice in Web Development.
11. UX Designs for Startups
UX Design for Start-Ups written by Marcin Treder, is a must read for any startup or grown-up company that wishes to keep its startup spirit and conquer the world with stunning UX Design. is a must read for any startup or grown-up company that wishes to keep its startup spirit and conquer the world with stunning UX Design.
12. Programming JavaScript Applications
Take your existing JavaScript skills to the next level and learn how to build complete web scale or enterprise applications that are easy to extend and maintain. By applying the design patterns outlined in this book, you’ll learn how to write flexible and resilient code that’s easier—not harder—to work with as your code base grows.
13. Locking Down WordPress
In Locking Down WordPress, WordPress pros Rachel Baker, Brad Williams, and John Ford take you through everything you need to know to make sure you have WordPress security under control.
14. WordPress Meet Responsive Design
In this short book Chris Coyier, Ian Stewart and Sara Cannon give you the lowdown on their real world uses and strategies for designing WordPress responsively.
15. Design your Imagination
This free web design e-book is clearly divided into 28 chapters and in each chapter a specific topic is illustrated with ample examples. The language is as lucid as possible and proper care has been taken to keep intact the flow of writing.
16. Web Design in Nutshell
Completely revised for standards compliance, including CSS 2.1 and XHTML 1.0.
17. Pro Drupal Development
Widely praised for its in–depth coverage of Drupal internals, bestselling Pro Drupal Development has been updated for Drupal 6 in this edition, and provides are even more tricks of the trade to help you further yourself as a professional Drupal developer.
18. 20 Things I Learned About Browsers and the Web
This book enlightens on cookies and few useful stuff regarding hardware, security and many more.
19. Time Management
It’s subtitled ‘Manage the Mundane – Create the Extraordinary’ as it’s designed to help you maintain your creative focus while dealing with your other commitments.
20.Learning PHP 5
This book lets you learn Php5 with ease and it is pain free introduction to Building Interactive Web Sites.
21. Practical PHP Programming
This eBook lets you learn how to use the most powerful web development language that can be found, and, what’s more, you will do so with the minimum of fuss.
22. CSS Cookbook
It’s a fast and quick Solutions to Common CSS Problems.
23. Web Style Guide
Written by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton for web site designers in corporations, government, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions, the book explains established design principles and covers all aspects of web design—from planning to production to maintenance.
24. Ruby on Rails
This book helps you to learn lightning fast web development with ruby programming.
25. Foundation of Ajax
Learn Ajax and its features implement into your projects with the help of this book.
26. Essential Action Script
Action Script 3.0 Programming Fundamentals.
27. Beginning CSS
Cascading style sheets (CSS) are the modern standard for website presentation. When combined with a structural markup language such as HTML, XHTML, or XML (though not limited to these), cascading style sheets provide Internet browsers with the information that enables them to present all the visual aspects of a web document.
28. Integrating Accessibility throughout Design
Accessibility is designing products so that people with disabilities can use them. Accessibility makes user interfaces perceivable, operable, and understandable by people with a wide range of abilities, and people in a wide range of circumstances, environments, and conditions. Thus accessibility also benefits people without disabilities, and organizations that develop accessible products.
29. Up to Speed on HTML and CSS3
A presentation to Refresh DC about the emerging HTML 5 and CSS 3 standards, namely about aspects that are beginning to become applicable to web design and development.
30. Design Funnel
Are you a professional designer? Would you like a process to create more consistently creative work which distinguishes itself from the work of your peers? This book is only 12 pages long. It will help you understand what you clients want from you and help you build creative websites that will definitely standout.
