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
Considered a “toy” language by serious web developers for most of its lifetime, JavaScript has regained its prestige in the past few years as a result of the renewed interest in Rich Internet 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 paradigms 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 websites such as MSNBC, and well-regarded open source projects including SourceForge, Trac, and Drupal.