jQuery vs. JavaScript: Which One is Better

In beginning many web developers were confused about the term jQuery and JavaScript. And they are aware to know what is actually difference between jQuery and JavaScript. But they may surprise to know that both are same. Generally jQuery is a set of JavaScript API, which is designed to simplify HTML document traversing, animation, event handling and Ajax interactions.

But according to our choice to be a professional developer you must have a solid command over JavaScript. If you are not aware about using JavaScript for website development, check out Javascript MasterCourse. Once you aware about JavaScript Language, you might analyze that jQuery Master Course fulfill most of your requirements and it's requires less coding than conventional JavaScript may require.

Introduction of JavaScript

JavaScript is scripting language which is developed to use within web browser. It is widely used for interface interactions. Slides show and another interactive components can easily done using this language.

JavaScript also widely used in creating game development, web applications, server side programming etc. New standards in JavaScript forces all web browsers to implement JavaScript formally, which reduces developers time and frustration trying to debug code for a specific web browsing client.

jQuery Introduction:

In early days when jQuery was not developed, web developer created their own frameworks in JavScript. These frameworks allowed developers to work around some specific bugs without wasting of time. Later a group of developers created JavaScript libraries, which was open source and free of cost and generally called JavaScript libraries.

So jQuery is a library of JavaScript developed by John Resig. It is easy to use and extremely powerful in comparison to other JavaScript libraries.

Which one is better?

Developer spend lot of time debating whether jQuery or JavaScript is best???? But the truth is that there is no correct answer of this question.... Either can be selected for development point of view, because whatever effects we perform using JavaScript, that effects can achieve using jQuery.

Some web development projects require traditional JavaScript, however jQuery is sufficient for most web development projects. Although jQuery may be preferably a choice for experienced developer, but as a fresher web developer should still take the time to learn both JavaScript and jQuery.

One biggest difference between jQuery and JavaScript is that jQuery has been optimized to support variety of browsers automatically. But Unfortunately JavaScript still has some issues with cross-browser compatibility due to poor JavaScript implementation.

Example:

jQuery

$ (‘body’) .css (‘background’, ‘#ccc’);

JavaScript

Function changeBachground(color) {

document.body.style.background = color;

//or

document.bgColor = color;

}

window.onload= “changeBackground (‘red’)”;

A single line of code accomplishes same result in jQuery, what it take 4 lines of JavaScript code.

Understand Core Difference between JavaScript and jQuery

JavaScript is a computer language mainly used for making Interactive websites under Web development. It provides a rich user experience for the websites. It is used along with HTML and CSS. HTML defines the content and CSS is used to give appearance like background color, fonts etc to web page. The main purpose of JavaScript is to add behavior to the page without loading a new page. We only make a static website by using HTML and CSS, JavaScript add interaction with the visitor and improves visitor experience. JavaScript is also used not only over the web but also in PDF documents, desktop widgets etc.

jQuery is a JavaScript library having pre-written JavaScript codes. jQuery makes the coding easy for JavaScript web developers. It is the set of codes written in JavaScript. Every thing in jQuery is derived from JavaScript.

The core difference between them is that, JavaScript is a programming language and jQuery is library. jQuery is nothing without JavaScript. If we write code in JS it's takes time but in jQuery, there is no necessities to write much scripting.

JavaScript is based on Object Oriented Programming while jQuery is cross platform library to make client side scripting easy. jQuery allows to focus on the problem and no need to take care about the JS code. We can do complex thing by writing a single statement in the editor that if we do same in JS needs lots of coding and debugging.

Following are the main difference between JQ and JS:

• JavaScript works with ECMA and DOM while jQuery has only DOM
• Animation are possible with JQ
• jQuery supports Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet explorer while JavaScript runs on all major browsers.
• jQuery written in JavaScript

Performance:

Both jQuery and JavaScript have almost equal performance speed. jQuery has been tried in the course of recent years and it turned out to be quick and predictable.

advantage to adding jQuery:

• Wide range of plugins available
• It is light weight compared to other frameworks of JS
• Easy to extend an active community
• Uses simple and powerful syntax

JavaScript advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

• Executed on the client side
• Relatively fast to the end user
• Uses extended functionality

Disadvantages:

• Fights with security
• Irregularity as far as usefulness and interface.

Jquery is a good framework for JavaScript, which is easily works with compatible browser. But for jQuery one should have proper understanding of JavaScript. It is simple and have many pre-made plugins and widgets. On the other hand JS is good for client side development using jQuery.