1. Understanding jQuery

The jQuery framework is the backbone of the jQuery Mobile framework, so it’s helpful to know some of the fundamentals of the jQuery framework before developing jQuery Mobile websites. Although it’s not required, understanding jQuery will make using jQuery Mobile even easier than it already is, especially if you’re interested in writing any sort of custom functionality.

jQuery is a robust yet lightweight JavaScript library that simplifies JavaScript coding and extends the capabilities of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). In addition, it eliminates cross-browser compatibility issues and is CSS3 compliant. This means quicker scripting, less testing, and less coding for the different ways that browsers handle certain functionality. The jQuery framework is truly an example of how web development should be: You get what you expect the first time, every time.