Part 1. Simple extensions

The most widely used JavaScript library on the web today, jQuery offers many functions to make life easy for front-end developers. You can make jQuery even better by extending it to provide additional functionality in a reusable format.

Chapter 1 contains a brief history of jQuery, then looks at what you can extend within jQuery. It finishes with a few examples of existing jQuery plugins, showing the breadth of possibilities.

In chapter 2 you’ll find a description of the jQuery architecture and possible extension points, each of which is discussed in more detail. Then, to get you started, you’ll see how to develop a simple plugin that you can use immediately.

The simplest extensions that you can create are enhanced selectors for jQuery—the building blocks behind finding the right element to operate upon. These are covered in chapter 3, with numerous examples of how to create your own.