Doka web dev reference

What it is

Doka is a free web development reference written in Russian. Its team calls it a "kind reference" for web developers, and that captures the tone: articles are plain, friendly and written from scratch rather than translated. Everything is open: both the content and the site's code live on GitHub, and anyone who knows a topic can contribute an article.

The material is split into HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web Platform, Accessibility and Recipes. The first three cover individual tags, properties and language features, from <div> and HTML semantics to CSS cascade layers (@layer) and Web Workers. Recipes are ready solutions to practical tasks, such as uploading a file with a progress bar. There are longer guides too: a complete reference to CSS Grid properties, an explainer on data structures in JavaScript, and a piece on measuring algorithm complexity.

The idea came out of Yandex Practicum in 2019, and Doka launched as an independent project on 12 October 2021. A small editorial team, with a dedicated editor for each major section, works alongside volunteer authors.

Why we picked it

Good web documentation in Russian is scarce. MDN has partial Russian translations, but they lag behind the English pages. Doka takes a different route and explains each topic anew: a short summary first, then an example, then the details and gotchas. Many articles end with an "In practice" block where working developers describe how they actually use the technique, which is often the most useful part for a beginner.

We also like that accessibility is a first-class section rather than an afterthought, with articles on live regions and on how screen readers treat page elements. And each article gets its own illustrated cover, so the reference feels friendlier than most technical docs.

A note on language: the whole site is in Russian, with no English version. It's best for Russian speakers, or for people learning Russian who want technical reading in a familiar subject.

Where to start

• Read the article on const, let and var to see how a typical Doka page is built.
• Keep the CSS Grid guide open while you build layouts; every property is in one place.
• Try "What is semantics?" in the HTML section to see why the right tags matter.
• Browse Recipes for solutions to everyday front-end tasks.
• Found an error or want to write? The GitHub repository has a guide for contributors.

Who it's for

Russian-speaking front-end learners who want explanations in their own language. Working developers who need a quick refresher on syntax or a property's behaviour. Teachers and mentors looking for a source they can confidently send students to. And anyone curious about technical writing: an open project with editors is a good place to practise.

Quick answers

Is Doka free? Yes. All articles are open with no sign-up, and the source is on GitHub.

Is it a translation of MDN? No. Articles are written from scratch with their own examples.

Is there an English version? No, the site is Russian-only.