Chapter 1. Introducing jQuery
This chapter covers
- Why you should use jQuery
- What Unobtrusive JavaScript means
- The fundamental elements and concepts of jQuery
- Using jQuery in conjunction with other JavaScript libraries
Sneered at as a “not-very-serious” language by many web developers for much of its lifetime, JavaScript has regained its prestige in the past few years as a result of the renewed interest in highly interactive, next-generation web applications (which you might also have heard referred to as rich internet applications or DOM-scripted applications) and Ajax technologies. The language has been forced to grow up quickly as client-side developers have tossed aside cut-and-paste JavaScript for the convenience of full-featured JavaScript libraries that solve difficult cross-browser problems once and for all, and provide new and improved patterns for web development.
A relative latecomer to this world of JavaScript libraries, jQuery has taken the web development community by storm, quickly winning the support of major companies for use in mission-critical applications. Some of jQuery’s prominent users include the likes of IBM, Netflix, Amazon, Dell, Best Buy, Twitter, Bank of America, and scores of other prominent companies. Microsoft has even elected to distribute jQuery with its Visual Studio tool, and Nokia uses jQuery on all its phones that include their Web Runtime component.
Those are not shabby credentials!