This book covers jQuery including a developer-level introduction and an in-depth look into some of the more advanced features. The book focuses on features available as of jQuery 1.7.1. but also tries to incorporate feature support in older versions of the library wherever it is relevant.

The first few chapters will help you set up a development environment and review important JavaScript concepts. Detailed coverage includes:

functions that make up the library and usages of the core jQuery functions
in-depth to select and manipulate HTML elements with jQuery
the cross-browser ability to bind and manage browser events
Ajax
shortcuts jQuery offers for animating components in your web applications including moving, fading, toggling, and resizing elements
jQuery UI, which is an associated user interface library for jQuery and contains things such as widgets, effects, animations, and interactions
additional jQuery UI features including moving, sorting, resizing, and selection elements with a mouse
techniques, best practices, and patterns that you can apply to your code to make it more efficient, maintainable, and clear
jQuery Template plugin
authoring jQuery plugins.
jQuery Deferred Object
unit testing and detail of the specific unit testing framework created by and used by the jQuery project itself, QUnit.

If you have experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, this book is for you. For existing jQuery users, it will expand your jQuery knowledge by focusing on the core library with the benefit of strong core JavaScript expertise in many of the lessons. But this book is not aimed at beginners. For those looking to start with the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/jQuery development, Beginning JavaScript and CSS Development with jQuery by Richard York will most likely help you more.

About the Author

Cesar Otero is a freelance web developer currently living in Mountain View, California, and his technical interests include Python, Django, JavaScript, and jQuery. He occasionally contributes articles to IBM's developer works and holds a degree in electrical engineering from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

Rob Larsen has more than 12 years' experience as a front end engineer and team leader, building websites and applications for some of the world's biggest brands. He is currently a Senior Specialist, Platform at Sapient Global Markets. Rob is an active writer and speaker on web technology with a special focus on emerging standards like HTML5, CSS3, and the ongoing evolution of JavaScript.