Using the $() function

The resulting set of elements from jQuery's selectors and methods is always represented by a jQuery object. These objects are very easy to work with when we want to actually do something with the things that we find on a page. We can easily bind events to these objects and add visual effects to them, as well as chain multiple modifications or effects together.

Note

Note that jQuery objects are different from regular DOM elements or node lists, and as such do not necessarily provide the same methods and properties for some tasks. In the final part of this chapter, we will look at ways to directly access the DOM elements that are collected within a jQuery object.

In order to create a new jQuery object, we use the $() function. This function typically accepts a CSS selector as its sole parameter and serves as a factory, returning a new jQuery object pointing to the corresponding elements on the page. Just about anything that can be used in a stylesheet can also be passed...