jQuery

The course opens with a short look at the capabilities of jQuery and its relationship with JavaScript. This is followed by an overview of the differences between the production and development versions of jQuery.

Once jQuery has been downloaded, we talk through the basics of implementing the library via html script tags and getting your first jQuery script ready to run using the document ready function.

Addressing content on a webpage is one of the common tasks required when creating any jQuery script, so the course looks at identifying content via html attributes and tags, the methods available for filtering content and the relationships created by the DOM model. The course then looks at optimising code and creating more advanced functions using jQuery's built in statement chaining.

Once students are able to address and manipulate content via jQuery, the course looks at understanding event handlers so that complex interaction can be created and associated with individual elements on a page. Fortunately jQuery provides a number of very useful help methods that make this process quick and efficient.

For those that want to create smooth browser based animation with or without interaction, the course looks at both the simple and advanced animation functions of jQuery. This allows students to build image rotators, animated menus, slideshows, animated tooltips, modal windows and more to bring static webpages to life.

For those that are interested in loading content and dynamically refreshing pages, the course looks at jQuery's Ajax functionality. From the simple .load() function used for content retrieval to the fine control of the .ajax() function, both designers and developers will find jQuery an absolute dream to use.

Although jQuery has a fully accomplished library of functions, it is superbly complimented by the jQuery developer community. The course looks at some of the most useful widgets and components that are available to use including the essential jQuery UI library. This library includes components such as accordion menus, datepickers, sliders and sortable objects to allow designers to create rich interactive web interfaces.

Finally the course looks and bringing together all the training with a chance to get your hands dirty by upgrading an existing website with an array of functionality provided by the jQuery library.