When should I use jQuery instead of plain JavaScript?

Frequently Asked Questions jQuery FAQ
1

Question

When should I use jQuery instead of plain JavaScript?

Answer

Some good use cases for jQuery:

  • When you are likely going to use a lot of jQuery’s functionality, and not just a few of it’s methods
  • When you need to build sites quickly that will be used on older browsers like IE8+
  • When you need to use a specific jQuery plugin

…among others!

A lot of times, plain, also called “vanilla”, JavaScript is quick to use and will not require extra content to be loaded for something small like targeting a <div> element. Definitely take the time to weigh the pros and cons before adding jQuery to a project.

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