Sharp jQuery (2nd Edition)

Sharp jQuery (2nd Edition) is a practice-oriented introduction to jQuery and a guide to taking it further, co-authored by Shan Donglin, Zhang Xiaofei, and Wei Ran. The book follows a simple arc: first get jQuery working, then understand why it works so well. Chapter 1 starts with the origins of JavaScript libraries and how to choose one, then covers how to include jQuery, its coding style, the difference between jQuery objects and DOM objects and how to convert between them, and how to avoid conflicts when jQuery coexists with other libraries. Chapter 2 systematically maps the jQuery selector system, from basic and hierarchy selectors to filter selectors and form selectors, with small exercises such as a brand list. Chapter 3 explains DOM manipulation: finding, creating, inserting, deleting, copying, replacing, and wrapping nodes, plus handling attributes and styles. Chapter 4 covers event binding and animation effects. Chapter 5 deals with forms and tables, including form validation, row striping, expand/collapse, and content filtering—common page effects. Chapter 6 centers on Ajax: XMLHttpRequest, jQuery's Ajax methods, element serialization, and global events, tied together with an Ajax chat room program. Chapter 7 introduces common plugins (form validation, form submission, modal windows, cookies) and shows how to write your own. Chapter 8 integrates the first seven chapters, building a complete personalized website case from asset preparation and page structure to styles and scripts. Chapter 9 introduces jQuery Mobile for mobile devices, Chapter 10 reviews changes across jQuery versions, and Chapter 11 summarizes performance optimization and practical tips. The book ends with seven appendices—the ready function, Firebug, Ajax parameters, XML parsing, the plugin API, and a jQuery quick reference—for easy lookup.