When you know how to do something, you have a skill. When you understand how something works, you can alter that knowledge and adapt it for your best uses. This gives you confidence and the ability to grow.
It's also the best piece of advice developer Matrin Rue received from his grandfather. He explains its importance:
If you simply remember how to do something, then all you can do is use it the same way over and over, but if you understand how it works, you can reason about it. Once you can reason about something in your mind you can contemplate why it is the way it is, you can apply your entire creative mind to making the most of it, and you can implement and question improvement – you own it intellectually.
Information only gets you so far. Learn how things work and you can expand upon them infinitely.
Understand How It Works | Martin Rue
Photo by Biter Big (Shutterstock).