What is jQuery?
Learn why jQuery was created in 2006, what pain it solved for developers, and why it remains on 77 percent of the top million websites today.
What is jQuery? is a free jQuery Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the jQuery Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Welcome!
Hey, welcome! 👋 You're about to meet jQuery, and it's friendlier than it sounds. Let's take it one tiny step at a time.
Built to be easy
This is our most beginner-friendly, micro-sized track. Scenes are short, so you'll move fast and finish before you know it.
Meet Your AI Mentor 🤖
See the purple ✨ AI Mentor button at the bottom of every lesson? That is your personal tutor — free to try, available 24/7 on mobile and web.
Tap it whenever you are stuck and choose what you need:
- 💡 Explain Simply — turn anything confusing into plain words
- 📋 Step by Step — break a problem into clear steps
- 🗣️ Everyday Example — connect it to real life
There is also Mini Quiz, Code Example and Ask — ask it absolutely anything. You are never learning alone. 💜
Learn in Your Own Language 🌍
Prefer to learn in your native language? You can!
Tap the 🌐 translate button at the top-right of the lesson (it is in the top bar on the web too) and pick your language. Every lesson instantly appears in your own language.
Switch back any time — learn the way that feels easiest for you. 🙌
So what is it?
jQuery is a JavaScript library — a ready-made toolbox of shortcuts that make websites easier to control.
A helpful shortcut
Think of it like a kitchen gadget. You could chop by hand, but the gadget does it faster with way less effort. 🔪
Why people love it
jQuery lets you write less code to do more. Tasks that took many lines suddenly take just one.
A tiny taste
See this? The dollar sign is jQuery saying "grab that thing and hide it." Short and sweet.
$("#box").hide();It works everywhere
jQuery was famous for making websites behave the same across all browsers. One line, no headaches.
You've got the idea!
Nice work — you already know what jQuery is and why it's handy. 🎉 Next up: the web page it plays with, the DOM.
Quick Check
Let's lock it in. What is jQuery, really?
Frequently asked questions
Is the “What is jQuery?” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “What is jQuery?” is free to read here on the web, and the jQuery Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the jQuery Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “What is jQuery?”?
Learn why jQuery was created in 2006, what pain it solved for developers, and why it remains on 77 percent of the top million websites today. You practise jQuery Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start jQuery Academy?
No prior experience is required. jQuery Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “What is jQuery?” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this jQuery Academy lesson?
Yes. Every jQuery Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- What is jQuery?
- What is the DOM?
- jQuery in the Real World