Most programmers are not just desktop programmers, web programmers or scripting gurus—instead, they're often all of the above. Knowing where to find free samples of code online can help you learn and create applications with these working code snippets.

Every developer has a list of their favorite websites where they not only search for free sample code, but also participate in the greater developer community. There are many of these sites to choose from.

We've narrowed things down to a few of our favorite places to start.

1. Stack Overflow

The Stack Overflow homepage.

The undisputed champion of websites for code snippets, help, and discussion has got to be Stack Overflow.

Regardless of whether you're just starting with your first programming language, maintaining old software in an obscure, forgotten language, or working on the cutting edge of industries like machine learning, Stack Overflow will have plenty of content for you to pull from and to refer to.

Most contributions concentrate on a single issue and adding sample code of your own is expected to show what you've already tried.

Most users will reply with example code, explaining how it works and how to implement it. It's one of the best websites for programmers who are just starting out for this reason.

2. SourceForge

The SouceForge homepage.

SourceForge is one of the most significant open-source resources on the Internet. Whenever you need to review sample code to learn how to do something, this is a great place to search.

From the main page, hover over the Open Source Software tab and select Development. What you'll find will astound you; you'll discover an entire world of open-source projects.

Over 100,000 listings under Development make SourceForge one of the largest collections of example code snippets and free code samples.

If you find software that sparks your interest, you might consider joining the development team and contributing to the project. You can also just view source code to learn how it works.

3. CodeGuru

The codeguru logo.

CodeGuru is a useful site for developers. It's a collection of resources and reference material; it mostly covers Visual C++/C++, .Net/C#, and Visual Basic, but you'll also find plenty in the way of Java, Azure, IoT, and more.

While this isn't a huge selection of programming languages, the site is full of articles that are far more comprehensive than the standard forum posts that you find on other websites. CodeGuru samples explain how to accomplish specific tasks in incredible detail, which is perfect for beginners.

Each article contains visual guides, sample code, and use cases. The forum is still fairly active, as well, with topics covering every web and software development topic under the sun.

4. CodeProject

CodeProject online community for coders

CodeProject is a booming developer community that has created a library of free resources for anybody to peruse. The content producers here are programmers who want to provide the best programming articles possible. Most of these come complete with well-written explanations along with the sample code to guide you.

Due to its community aspect, you're likely to get sucked into prize competitions, surveys, articles, message boards, or even the job board. This community is an excellent way to connect with other programmers with common coding interests. Before you know it, you may be tempted to write an article yourself!

5. DevX

devx code site

No list of developer resources would be complete without a mention of DevX. This site is a massive programmer's paradise and a huge portal to other huge sites. It covers the most popular programming topics such as Java, C++, database programming, Visual Basic, mobile programming, and much more.

Running your mouse over the left menu bar, as shown above, will display the sub-communities that exist under the DevX umbrella portal. It's not exactly the most active site anymore, but if you comb through the archives that this community has left behind, you're bound to learn a lot.

6. The GNU Free Software Directory

GNU Free Software Directory

If your thing is free, open-source code snippets, you won't want to miss out on the Free Software Directory that's linked directly from the GNU home page. This directory is an impressive list of free software backed by a source that we love and trust.

Categories cover almost every application type you would ever need. Because everything here is open-source, it's the perfect place to learn and to understand how complex applications work from the inside out.

Read more: The Best Beginner Projects for New Programmers

7. Google Open Source

Google Open Source Hub

If you want to learn how to develop software, why not learn from the biggest and the best? Google has a variety of projects available on its Open Source portal to contribute to, along with instructions on how to start your own project and share it with the world.

This site goes hand-in-hand with Google's Developer Portal, which hosts a wealth of essential information for developers of all types. It's the perfect way for a beginner to learn how to code for free.

Read more: The Best Ways to Learn How to Code for Free

8. The Top React Open-Source Projects

A close-up of code on a screen.

More a collection of projects than a single site, this blog post combines the best open-source resources for React currently.

Many other frameworks concentrate on back-end software development and user applications for a specific operating system. React, however, is the modern face of the internet, used extensively in front-end user interfaces. These open-source projects cover many aspects of learning and using React in a modern development environment.

React is one of the top web frameworks worth learning. You can even write Android Apps using React Native.

9. CodePen

The CodePen homepage.

CodePen is one of the best front-end code snippet sources that we know of. Anyone can create graphics and small apps in the browser using HTML, CSS, or JS, all without any prior setup.

If you're interested in front-end CSS and JavaScript, CodePen is the one for you. Regular jams, challenges, and showcases bring the entire community together, from beginners to industry professionals.

CodePen is also a great place to learn new creative skills, like how to create motion graphics with JavaScript animation libraries.

Learn From These Sample Source Code Sites

Each site on this list will likely be able to provide you with the code examples that you need to create your software. The web is an incredible resource for developers. There is so much to learn.

This article is by no means exhaustive, and there are many more sites out there for finding code. Source code is a great way to learn on your own; once you've got your sea legs, you'll be building like a pro in no time.