GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2
Microsoft Learn
Last updated October 13, 2025
This learning path is the first half of a two-part grounding in GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered coding assistant that suggests, explains, refactors, and debugs code inside your editor. Across nine modules it covers what Copilot is and how it works, the differences between the Individual, Business, and Enterprise plans, effective prompting, Copilot Spaces, and using Copilot across environments — the editor, chat, GitHub.com, and the command line. A dedicated module on responsible AI sets the guardrails before you start, and hands-on modules put the features to work in a Python application and in writing unit tests in Visual Studio Code.
What you'll learn
- What GitHub Copilot is and how it generates, explains, and refactors code
- The differences between Copilot Individual, Business, and Enterprise plans
- Writing effective prompts to turn comments and intent into working code
- Using Copilot across the editor, chat, GitHub.com, and the command line
- Responsible and secure use of an AI coding assistant
Frequently asked questions about GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2
Who is GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2 for?
Developers with basic GitHub experience who want a structured, hands-on grounding in GitHub Copilot before relying on it day to day.
Is GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2 free?
Yes — GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2 is completely free to take.
What are the prerequisites for GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2?
Basic understanding of GitHub fundamentals. The hands-on modules have you write and run code yourself.
Do you need to code for GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2?
Yes — GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Part 1 of 2 involves hands-on coding.
Why we suggest this course
For developers who want to move past one-off autocomplete and actually understand how Copilot fits a real workflow, this path builds the foundation before the shortcuts. It pairs the "what and why" — plans, features, prompting, responsible use — with practical work in an editor, so the features land as habits rather than trivia. One thing to know: it assumes a basic grasp of GitHub fundamentals, and to follow the hands-on modules you'll write and run code yourself, so it suits people who already code rather than total beginners.