JQuery: An Introduction
Page last updated on 2011 / 25 / 07As a budding web developer you have no doubt heard of JQuery, and you most certainly have visited a website that runs it.
JQuery is essentially a bundled library of functions designed to enable developers to write less javascript and achieve more functionality. It also acts as a basic framework to which there are hundreds of Jquery 'plugins' developed to further enhance the range of functions that JQuery can accomplish.
At its most basic level, JQuery:
- Has a large support community due to its popularity of use.
- Is able to select and manipulate elements of an HTML document. JQuery recognises the Document Object Model (DOM)
- Is able to manipulate on-page CSS and Javascript functions. It effectively gives you complete control and access over every element and attribute on a page
- Provides a lightweight and simple AJAX framework.
- Achieves common Javascript tasks with less code, and on the whole provides more intuitive syntax for those learning Javascript.
- Is modular and easily expandable, you can even create your own plugins
- Is entirely free and open source, anyone, commercially or otherwise is able to use and modify the library free of charge.
JQuery is hugely popular and well tested. Purists may tell you that you can achieve anything you like with regular Javascript coding that doesn't "require" a 'bloated' library of javascript. A counter-argument is that JQuery is hosted on a number of popular websites, and allow you to 'hotlink' a copy, which enhances the chances that your site visitors are going to have a version of it already cached on their computer.
So Why Use JQuery?
This section of the site hopes to cite and provide useful examples of JQuery in action. Why not Visit the JQuery Site and then check back, and test some of our examples?
I firmly believe in using a library like JQuery. It is a huge timesaver and worth considering when developing a website, regardless of your level of expertise.
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