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Why it is needed $ = jQuery

Question is nearly theoretical. But last time I've encountred some subtle bug. When the page contains child frame and both parent and child frame are used the same js file, if I not set $ = jQuery on the start, functionality of this js file crashed. What the trick could be here?

Thanks!

Solution

  • If there are other JavaScript libraries included anywhere in the page, they might use $. Mootools and Prototype both use $.

    If you include jQuery and then you include Prototype then the $ variable will be over-written, so you'd have to set $ = jQuery before any jQuery code would work:

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="jQuery.js" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="prototype.js" />
<script>$ = jQuery</script>

    Equally, as @Guffa says, if you called noConflict anywhere it would unset the $ variable.

    Ideally, I don't think you should use the $ variable, as it can cause problems. Just do something like:

    jQuery.noConflict();
var jQ = jQuery;

    And then use the jQ variable as you would have the $. Then you won't get conflicts.