What is jQuery? Complete Guide for Modern Web Development
Web development used to be far more complicated, especially when managing browser inconsistencies and writing lengthy JavaScript code for simple interactions. This is where jQuery became a game-changer, offering a lightweight library that simplified DOM manipulation, event handling, and AJAX requests for developers and enterprises alike. If you have challenges in managing JavaScript for your projects, this article will guide you through what is jQuery, showing how it works, its features, and why it remains a valuable solution for modern businesses.
What is jQuery?
jQuery is a lightweight, open-source JavaScript library designed to simplify tasks such as HTML document traversal, event handling, animations, and AJAX interactions. It reduces the amount of code that developers need to write, making it faster and easier to build interactive and responsive websites.
When considering what is jQuery in web development, it remains highly relevant for businesses that maintain legacy systems or need cost-effective solutions for enhancing user interfaces, even as newer frameworks have emerged.
Example: WordPress, which powers over 40% of all websites globally, relies heavily on jQuery for its themes and plugins. This allows developers to add interactive features like sliders, form validations, and image galleries quickly, resulting in a more engaging user experience and faster deployment for businesses using the platform.
How does jQuery work?
jQuery works by abstracting common JavaScript functions into shorter, easier commands that developers can use with minimal code. For example, the simple command $(“#id”) can replace multiple lines of vanilla JavaScript used to select and manipulate elements on a page. This approach not only saves development time but also ensures consistent behavior across different browsers, boosting productivity and reliability in web development.
What is jQuery used for?
If you are wondering what is jQuery for, the answer is that it can serve many purposes in making websites more dynamic and user-friendly. Based on years of use, here are the most common ways businesses apply it:
- DOM manipulation and traversal: jQuery simplifies the process of selecting, editing, and reorganizing HTML elements, helping developers control content presentation effortlessly.
- Event handling (clicks, keypresses, etc.): It streamlines the setup of interactive features by managing user actions like button clicks or keyboard inputs with concise code.
- Animations and UI effects: Developers can add effects such as fading, sliding, and dynamic menus to create more engaging user experiences without heavy coding.
- AJAX requests for dynamic content: jQuery allows seamless data loading and updates on a page without requiring a full refresh, improving speed and responsiveness.
- Cross-browser scripting for consistency: It ensures websites function smoothly across different browsers, solving compatibility issues that once plagued developers.
- Supporting legacy systems still dependent on jQuery: Many existing platforms and CMS tools continue to use jQuery, making it essential for maintenance and upgrades.
Key Features of jQuery
Since jQuery can deliver a large list of detailed functions, we are going to focus on the 7 core features below:
- Simplified syntax for JavaScript tasks: jQuery transforms complex JavaScript commands into shorter and easier-to-read syntax, allowing developers to achieve more with fewer lines of code.
- Cross-browser compatibility: The library smooths out inconsistencies across different browsers, ensuring that web applications behave consistently regardless of where they are accessed.
- AJAX support for dynamic page updates: jQuery makes it simple to send and retrieve data asynchronously, so businesses can update content in real time without requiring users to refresh the page.
- Large plugin ecosystem: Thousands of plugins are available to extend jQuery’s functionality, enabling developers to add features like sliders, calendars, or form validation without building them from scratch.
- Lightweight and fast execution: The library is small in size, meaning it loads quickly and runs efficiently, making it a reliable option for enhancing website performance.
- Strong community and documentation: With years of active use, jQuery has a mature community that provides tutorials, guides, and support, reducing the learning curve for new developers.
- Easy integration with other frameworks: jQuery can be integrated seamlessly into existing systems or combined with other frameworks, making it a flexible option for businesses working with diverse technologies.
jQuery Pros and Cons
From my own experience using jQuery in multiple projects, I quickly realized that it brings both powerful strengths and certain drawbacks depending on the business context. To provide a balanced view, I have combined my insights with feedback from other developers and enterprise users.
Below is a clear breakdown of jQuery benefits & limitations to help you decide if this technology fits your project needs.
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Quick learning curve: New developers can understand and start using jQuery within hours, reducing training time for teams. | Declining usage in modern development: Many enterprises are shifting to Angular, React, or Vue, which offer more advanced capabilities for SPAs. |
| Cross-browser consistency: jQuery smooths out browser differences, ensuring your application runs the same across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and even older Internet Explorer versions. | Performance bottlenecks in large apps: Heavy reliance on jQuery can make enterprise-scale applications slower compared to lightweight frameworks. |
| Reduced coding effort: Complex JavaScript tasks such as DOM traversal and AJAX requests require only a few lines of jQuery code. | Limited support for modern app architecture: jQuery is not designed for component-based or reactive programming models that modern apps require. |
| Large plugin ecosystem: Thousands of ready-to-use plugins allow businesses to add features like sliders, calendars, and popups without building from scratch. | |
| Excellent for legacy systems: Many CMS platforms (like WordPress) and enterprise applications still depend on jQuery, making it essential for upgrades and maintenance. | |
| Strong community and documentation: A mature community provides tutorials, forums, and guides, which makes problem-solving faster and easier. |
5 Common Industries that apply jQuery
Over the years, jQuery has been applied across multiple sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, finance, and government platforms. It has helped millions of businesses solve compatibility issues, improve user interfaces, and deliver interactive features more efficiently. Here are the five most common fields where jQuery is still worth considering—if your business belongs to one of these, feel free to explore further.
1. E-commerce
In the e-commerce web development services, jQuery is widely used to power product image galleries, real-time cart updates, and interactive checkout experiences. Its ease of integration makes it a cost-effective choice for online stores that want to enhance user experience without building features from scratch.
Example: Shopify themes and plugins often use jQuery to add dynamic shopping carts and product sliders. This has helped merchants quickly customize storefronts, boosting customer engagement and conversion rates.
2. Media & Publishing
Media and publishing companies rely on jQuery for interactive carousels, content sliders, and video embeds that improve audience engagement. Its ability to handle animations and effects smoothly makes it a practical choice for high-traffic sites.
Example: WordPress, which powers over 40% of all websites, integrates jQuery in many of its themes and plugins. This enables publishers to deliver interactive content modules without heavy coding, improving both usability and reader retention.
3. Education & E-Learning
In education, jQuery supports interactive course modules, quiz validation, and user-friendly dashboards for students and teachers. Its cross-browser consistency ensures that learning platforms and e-learning software development solutions remain accessible on different devices.
Example: Moodle LMS has historically used jQuery to enable interactive quizzes and real-time progress tracking. This has enhanced the learning experience by keeping students more engaged and improving course delivery efficiency.
4. Financial Services
Banks and financial organizations use jQuery for secure form validation, customer dashboards, and dynamic reporting tools. It allows financial platforms, fintech software development services to maintain legacy systems while adding modern interactivity.
Example: PayPal’s older web components leveraged jQuery for form handling and AJAX updates, ensuring smooth and secure online payment processing. This contributed to a better user experience and improved trust in digital transactions.
5. Government & Public Sector
Government agencies rely on jQuery for citizen portals and services that need to work reliably across all browsers, including older versions still in use by many citizens. Its simplicity helps maintain accessible and secure user interfaces.
Example: The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has integrated jQuery into some of its public-facing web applications. This has improved accessibility and ensured consistency for users accessing services across multiple browsers.
jQuery vs Other Frontend Libraries
Besides jQuery, there are many other frontend JavaScript libraries and frameworks available today, each designed to support developers in different ways. While some focus on simplicity, others are built for scalability or modern single-page application (SPA) development. To help businesses decide, the comparison below highlights key factors to evaluate which option suits your needs best.
| Criteria | jQuery |
Vanilla JavaScript |
React |
| Performance | Provides good performance for small to mid-size applications, but may slow down large apps with heavy use. | Offers maximum performance since it runs directly without an extra layer. | Very fast rendering thanks to Virtual DOM, optimized for large-scale apps. |
| Scalability | Scales well for small enhancements but struggles with very large enterprise applications. | Highly scalable but requires more code and manual handling for complex apps. | Designed for scalability, handling complex SPAs and enterprise-grade systems effectively. |
| Ease of Use | Extremely easy to learn and apply, even for beginners with limited coding experience. | Requires deeper knowledge of syntax and more manual coding effort. | Moderate learning curve with JSX and concepts, but easier than managing raw JavaScript for big projects. |
| Ecosystem | Has a mature ecosystem with many plugins, though it is shrinking as newer frameworks grow. | No dedicated ecosystem beyond JavaScript itself. | Large and active ecosystem with thousands of reusable components and strong community support. |
| Enterprise Adoption | Still widely used in legacy systems and CMS platforms like WordPress. | Commonly used for smaller scripts or when full control is needed. | Adopted globally by enterprises for modern, scalable applications and SPAs. |
How to Set Up & Use jQuery: 5 Simple Steps
For many beginners, the biggest pain points with jQuery are not knowing how to include the library, how to call elements correctly, or how to make pages interactive without breaking existing code. If you are also in this situation, then this basic setup will guide you step by step and ensure you get a smooth start from scratch.
Step 1: Add the jQuery library via CDN or local file
Insert the jQuery <script> tag before the closing </body> tag in your HTML file, either through a CDN link (e.g., from Google) or by downloading the library and linking it locally. This is the first step in setting up jQuery, so your project can call its functions.
Step 2: Initialize jQuery in your code
Always start your code inside the $(document).ready(function(){ … }); block (or the shorthand $(function(){ … });). This ensures your jQuery runs only after the page elements are fully loaded.
Step 3: Use selectors to target elements
jQuery simplifies element selection with commands like $(“#id”) or $(“.class”). This is the foundation of how to use jQuery, allowing you to access and manipulate specific parts of your page.
Step 4: Apply event listeners (click, hover, etc.)
Add interactivity by using built-in functions such as $(“#button”).click(function(){ … });. This lets you handle user interactions smoothly, from clicks and keypresses to mouse hovers.
Step 5: Add animations or AJAX for dynamic updates
Use built-in methods like .fadeIn(), .slideToggle(), or .ajax() to create smooth effects or update content dynamically without reloading the page. This makes your web application more responsive and engaging.
FAQs
1. Is jQuery frontend or backend?
jQuery is a frontend tool. It works in the browser to control how users interact with a website, not on the server side.
2. Is jQuery free?
Yes, jQuery is completely free and open-source. Anyone can use it in their projects without paying license fees.
3. Can jQuery still be used in 2025?
Yes, jQuery can still be used in 2025, especially for websites and systems that already rely on it. However, most new projects now use modern frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.
4. What is the difference between jQuery and JavaScript
JavaScript is the main programming language, while jQuery is a library built on top of JavaScript. jQuery provides shortcuts that make JavaScript tasks easier and faster to write.
5. Does jQuery work with modern frameworks?
Yes, jQuery can work alongside modern frameworks, but it is not usually necessary. Most frameworks already have built-in features that replace what jQuery does.
Conclusion
To sum up, what is jQuery can be best described as a simple yet powerful tool that transformed web development by making JavaScript easier, faster, and more accessible for developers and enterprises. Its importance lies in reducing coding time, improving cross-browser functionality, and supporting businesses that still rely on legacy systems.
Businesses struggling to implement complex JavaScript libraries like jQuery into their web design can significantly enhance their digital presence by leveraging the professional hire JavaScript developers services offered by Newwave Solutions. With over 14 years of expertise in IT outsourcing and a track record of 300+ successful global projects, we provide top-tier developers who specialize in optimizing front-end performance, reducing development risks, and ensuring a faster time-to-market for your business.
Contact us today to access our premium talent pool and let our experts handle your technical challenges, making it faster and easier to build interactive and responsive websites.
To Quang Duy is the CEO of Newwave Solutions, a leading Vietnamese software company. He is recognized as a standout technology consultant. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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