Book review: jQuery Reference Guide

My very first programming reference book was the JavaScript Bible. I liked it so much I wore the coating off the cover, eventually the binding ripped, and pages started falling out in chunks. Every reference since has had the unfortunate luck of being judged by that standard. The jQuery Reference Guide is no different, but I am happy to write I am still pleasantly surprised by this book.

Another piece of criteria I use to judge a programming reference book is how well it can contend with online resource documentation. In the case of jQuery, there is some stiff competition. Not only did John Resig, the creator of jQuery, develop a reliable resource through jQuery.com, but Yehuda Katz built the most excellent Visual Query. Include an active jQuery Google Group, and you might be asking why you even need a book.

As I advanced in my jQuery knowledge, I discovered quickly that the online documentation was extremely terse. I understand the benefits of teaching beginners who are attempting to grasp the library quickly, but most developers need a book that extends well beyond the basics into advanced development techniques. While you might find the Internet useful for refreshing your memory on some syntax, jQuery Reference Guide will help you to dig deeper into intermediate concepts.

I have developed several plug-ins for jQuery, and I have to say it is a fun learning experience. Surprisingly, I found Chapter 9: Plug-In API, to be more helpful than expected. The technique in the book differs slightly from what you will find in the source of a typical jQuery plug-in, but it still does an excellent job of walking through the code. The authors demonstrate how to create an event logs plug-in, which is a good choice given how much developers deal with events in Web sites and Web applications.

I suppose my only complaint would be that the book covers the jQuery library API, but not the JavaScript implementation details behind the library. Since jQuery is open-source, any developer is free to add, modify, and delete, but I would still love to read an in depth review of the source. If I could clone John Resig, steal all his knowledge, or download it instantaneously, then I surely would. In the meantime, having a book would be an acceptable alternative.

If you select jQuery as your JavaScript library of choice, then you should seriously consider purchasing jQuery Reference Guide. Even if you have already purchased Learning jQuery, this can make a great companion guide. Personally, if I had to choose between either book, I would pick the reference. However, if you are a designer looking for a slice of production-ready functionality from a cookbook, then I would suggest Learning jQuery.

About the Authors

Jonathan Chaffer

“Jonathan Chaffer is the Chief Technology Officer of Structure Interactive, an interactive agency located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There he oversees web development projects using a wide range of technologies, and continues to collaborate on day-to-day programming tasks as well.”
– Excerpt from jQuery Reference Guide

Karl Swedberg

“Karl Swedberg is a web developer at Structure Interactive in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he spends much of his time implementing design with a focus on web standards–semantic HTML, well-mannered CSS, and unobtrusive JavaScript.”
– Excerpt from jQuery Reference Guide

Learning jQuery Resources

• Learning jQuery Web site
• PACKT Publishing
• Buy jQuery Reference Guide
• jQuery Web site

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Anatomy of a jQuery Script
Chapter 2: Selector Expressions
Chapter 3: DOM Traversal Methods
Chapter 4: DOM Manipulation Methods
Chapter 5: Event Methods
Chapter 6: Effect Methods
Chapter 7: AJAX Methods
Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Methods
Chapter 9: Plug-In API
Chapter 10: Dimensions Plug-In
Chapter 11: Form Plug-In
Appendix A: Online Resources
Appendix B: Development Tools
Index

• Posted by Brian
• October 24th, 2007