Is jQuery Still Relevant in 2023?
jQuery is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries that makes it easier to interact with the Document Object Model (DOM) and DOM is an essential part of running web apps successfully so this way jQuery becomes a crucial part of running web apps successfully. It was released in 2006 and quickly became the most popular JavaScript library in the world. Till now millions of websites use jQuery for a number of reasons.
In recent years–especially the last 4-5 years, the popularity of jQuery has declined somewhat. This is due to the rise of newer JavaScript frameworks, such as React, Vue, and Angular and so on so forth. These frameworks offer a more modern and modular way to build web applications giving more rooms to modernity and making it easier for users to interact. Despite the decline in popularity, jQuery is still a very popular and widely used library. For example, just in the 2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 22.87% of respondents said that they use jQuery, making it the third most popular JavaScript framework lately that also means it’s still widely used despite tons of new libraries and frameworks available to begin with.
So, is jQuery still relevant in 2023? The answer is yes, but it depends on your needs and what you actually want to do in the grand scheme of things for web apps. If you are building a new web application, it is probably best to use a newer JavaScript framework. However, if you are working on an existing web application that uses jQuery, or if you need to add interactivity to a simple website, then jQuery is still a great option.
#1 Here are some of the reasons why jQuery is still relevant in 2023:
i) Ease of use
jQuery is very easy to learn and use, even if you are new to JavaScript so the web developers find it easy to execute.
ii) Wide range of features
jQuery has provided us with a wide range of features for interacting with the DOM, including DOM manipulation, event handling, and AJAX etc. We can easily manipulate everything we want while using it.
iii) Large community and ecosystem
It also has a large and active community of developers who are ready to help the new devs 24/7 so if you are new to jQuery just throw a question there and within a few minutes you will get an answer to that. This means that there are many resources available to help you learn and use it, and there are also many plugins and libraries available to extend the functionality of this powerful JS library.
iv) Compatibility
It is compatible with all major browsers and devices altogether and just a few years ago there was not any other JS library which could have provided that much compatibility with the browsers. This makes it a good choice for developing web applications that need to be compatible with a wide range of users.
#2 Here are some more useful details about jQuery
i) jQuery is a free and open-source library
ii) jQuery is licensed under the MIT License
iii) jQuery is hosted on GitHub
iv) jQuery is used by millions of websites and web applications around the world
#3 jQuery Plugins
Its functionality multiplies hundred folds with the usage of plugins. Over the course of time many new plugins have been introduced to make it very useful for everyone and for every task.
Here are some of the most popular jQuery plugins
i) jQuery UI
ii) Slick Slider
iii) DataTables
iv) Magnific Popup
v) Owl Carousel
vi) jQuery Validation
vii) jQuery Cookie
viii) jQuery ColorPicker
ix) jQuery Datepicker
x jQuery Timepicker
#4 Examples of jQuery
Here are some examples of how jQuery can be used to add interactivity to a website:
i) To change the text of a paragraph element
HTML<p id="my-paragraph">This is my paragraph.</p>
JavaScript
$(document).ready(function() {
$("#my-paragraph").text("This is my new paragraph.");
});
ii) To add an event listener to a button element
HTML
<button id="my-button">Click me!</button>javaScript
$(document).ready(function() {
$("#my-button").click(function() {
alert("You clicked the button!");
});
});iii) To send an AJAX request
JavaScript
$(document).ready(function() {
$.ajax({
url: "/api/users",
success: function(data) {
// Do something with the data
}
});
});#5 When to use jQuery
Here are some of the scenarios where jQuery needs to be used
i) When we are building a simple website that needs some interactivity
ii) When we are working on an existing web application that uses jQuery
iii) When we are required to add interactivity to a website that needs to be compatible with a wide range of browsers and devices.
#6 When not to use jQuery
We cannot use jQuery wherever we want. There are some scenarios where we should not use it which we have mentioned below:
i) When we are building a complex web application that requires a lot of modularity and scalability. It’s highly advised to to use it.
ii) While building web apps which need to be as fast and performant as possible.
iii) You are building a web application that uses a newer JavaScript framework, such as React, Vue, or Angular.
So this all boils down to the fact that jQuery is still a relevant and useful JavaScript library in 2023 and we can easily implement and manipulate everything while using it. It’s also very easy to learn and use, provides a wide range of features, and has a large community and ecosystem. On the other hand, if you are building a new web application, it is probably best to use one of the newer JavaScript frameworks or jQuery alternatives as they come with much more compatibility, usability and features.
