I just want to get into this slowly but I am somewhat overwhelmed by the words like Headers. I basically just want to practice with it and find out what I can learn. I dont have much experience with any of this yet, and I dont want to waste a load of money on something I cant understand. There are so many products, with different descriptions but then there is the one that just says arduino nano. Should I just get that for now?
Welcome to the forum!
FWIW, the Arduino Nano does come with headers.
Headers are just pin connectors (male or female) that allow you to make connections to the board without soldering. For a beginner, a board with headers is probably a good idea.
The Arduino Nano has male headers, which means that you can insert it directly into a breadboard, and then use the breadboard to connect your other circuit elements.
Other boards (e.g., the UNO family of boards) have female headers. This makes it possible to use them with so-called "shield" boards, which are specialized circuit boards that have male headers, aligned so that they can be snapped onto the Arduino board, without using breadboard or wire connections. If you plan to use shields, you need to get a board that has female headers and is compatible with available shields.
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You can also make your own removable "shield" when you have a project that you want to keep complete, but also want to experiment with other circuits on the Uno.
You can also make shields for the Nano.
I travel with a Nano because it is small and lets me test code live rather than simulate code.
Then, there is Wokwi.com, the simulator for Arduino and ESP boards. No purchase required. Great place to store ideas or practice code.
"Headers" is not an overwhelming word. Headers are simple mechanical/electrical connectors.
To answer your question, yes, get a Nano (V3 ATmega328) and a large breadboard. Much better than Uno and a bird's nest of wires: that can be overwhelming!
I think that you will get pretty bored with just a Nano. If you can find a starter kit with a Nano that would be great. Else I would suggest that you buy a starter kit with an Uno (or Mega) and optionally either an additional Arduino Nano or Arduino Micro.
A spare board is always useful and with an Arduino Micro you can also play around with using that board as a keyboard or mouse.
Do you have a copy of the Arduino Cookbook yet? Also check out the Project Hub on the Arduino.cc site for things you may want to build.
That is definitely true. It only takes a split second mistake to damage a board, we all do it regardless of experience, so having a spare means you don't have to order a new one and wait for it to arrive.
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I would recommend the UNO R3 as a start just because it is a little bigger and more accessible. It is the same as the Nano with the exception two of the A/D pins are not available. Nano has become a generic term for many different processors, the UNO has not so when looking up information etc you do not have to differentiate which part you have.
Also get more then one so you have something to fall back on. If you fry one find out why first and do not power the second for a day just to let the information settle in your mind.
Be careful with that, an UNO R3, UNO R4 / UNO R4 WiFi, and UNO WiFi Rev 2 use different processors and have some code incompatibilities.
That is why I recommended the R3. I think it is the best choice for beginners due to its extensive resources, compatibility with many libraries, and a wide range of available tutorials in many languages. It offers a good base for learning and experimenting with electronics and programming which can be later transfered to other processors.
Im not sure if I am any better off now lol. Everyone is saying different things. Its mainly to do with something I can start off with lightly iykwm.
should I get 2? I can aford it. Maybe if I get 2 then I can try working with both
For the nano, these are the headers (as far as I understand):
A nano should not be a hard board to work with as a beginner, if it fits the purpose you want for a project. However, if just starting and want to just learn, I like UNOs as well.
Im really excited now. You are all so helpful even if I am still a bit undecided, What should I get with it, so it all works ? You know like anything that you need to make it all work. Do I need some other things, or does it come with all you need?
For this particular Amazon picture I got it from, it should come with all you need. You should just need a USB cable, barring no issues with things like the bootloader.
If you do not get one with headers fitted then you will have to solder them on yourself. Are you any good at soldering?
You will also need a solderless bread board to make sure the headers are aligned correctly, and more importantly vertically.
Have a look at this link:-
How to solder headers
The Arduino Uno R3 (ATmega328P processor, 5V, 16MHz) and the basic Arduino Nano (same processor, voltage, and clock speed) are interchangeable—they essentially differ only in form factor (and a pair of analog pins). The Arduino Uno is simpler to connect quickly using jumper wires, as it comes with pre-installed female headers. The Arduino Nano is better suited for final projects on perfboards or printed circuit boards; it can also be inserted into a breadboard. Make sure the model you purchase has pre-soldered headers (if needed), and that it operates at 5V and 16MHz.
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Depends on what you mean by "works". For very basic functionality, you will only need a computer and a USB cable. But with such a basic setup, you will only be able to practice coding, or make a single on-board LED turn on or off, or send/receive text strings between the Arduino board and the computer.
For more interesting projects, you will need a breadboard, one or more batteries, and a selection of external electronic components that can interact with the Arduino board. For example, you could get an accessory kit like this one:
The exact set of accessories to acquire depends in large part on what you are interested in doing, and on your budget.
Get a starter kit with an UNO or classic NANO. They will include an assortment of parts to experiment with. Don't go overboard - get on in the $30 or less range. It will have enough parts to get started without a bunch of stuff you may not use. Look at the part list - I would get one with a display of some sort.