jQuery is a JavaScript library intended to simplify scripting of HTML. Using jQuery, you can create animations, low/high-end interactions, and even theme-able widgets. All these sweet things (animations, interactions etc) are the building blocks of powerful and dynamic websites and web applications.
Provided you know your way around JavaScript, you can easily include a jQuery library to your project using the familiar <script></script> tags. For example:
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
Today’s post is a quick list of fifteen (15) of the best jQuery libraries you can use to add life and awesome functionality to your web design projects.
Angular JS
According to angularjs.org, “AngularJS lets you extend HTML vocabulary…” resulting in an environment that is “…expressive, readable and quick to develop.” You can use Angular JS to build directives, modules and enhance your forms among other things.
Website: http://www.angularjs.org
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.25/angular.min.js"></script>
Dojo
Supporting all major browsers and most of the devices in the market, Dojo uses the latest web standards allowing you to save time and scale depending on your project’s needs. Dojo is the JavaScript library of choice for many experienced developers looking to build top notch desktop and mobile web apps.
Website: http://dojotoolkit.org/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/dojo/1.10.1/dojo/dojo.js"></script>
Sly
Are you looking to build amazing jquery sliders? If so, Sly is the JavaScript library you want. You can use the library to create item based navigation systems, simple scrollbars as well animate sliders in parallax websites. The library is super fast (52kb in development), efficient and supports all modern browsers. It has not been tested on mobile phones, but the developers are welcoming you to help with that.
Website: http://darsa.in/sly/
Download: http://darsa.in/sly/
jQuery
jQuery is quite extensible and flexible, which has simplified the way millions of web designers write JavaScript. jQuery powers Ajax, DOM traversal and manipulation, event handling, and enhances animations among other things. You can download either version 1.11.1 or 2.1.1. Both are stable :).
Website: http://jquery.com/
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
jQuery Mobile
Have you taken to responsive web design or are you still writing applications for each mobile device? If you fall in the latter category. I feel bad for you. However, if you’ve taken up responsive web design, the jQuery Mobile framework helps you to develop fully responsive sites that look amazing across multiple devices in no time.
Website: http://jquerymobile.com/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquerymobile/1.4.3/jquery.mobile.min.js"></script>
MooTools
This is a compact, modular, object-oriented jQuery library that helps intermediate to advanced JavaScript developers to write cross-browser, flexible and powerful code without breaking a sweat. MooTools uses strict web standards and comes with great documentation to help you along the way. MooTools is used by sites such as Gamespot, W3C, Cnet, Bing and Vimeo among others.
Website: http://mootools.net/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/mootools/1.5.1/mootools-yui-compressed.js"></script>
jQuery UI
jQuery UI is just a collection of user interface elements such as widgets, themes and other effects built on the jQuery library. The library helps you to achieve various effects such as drag and drop elements, resizable elements, sortable/searchable elements etc. Widgets include accordion, menu, datepicker, tabs, buttons, dialog etc. Effects include toggle, color animation, hide, easing, add/remove class etc.
Website: http://jqueryui.com/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.11.1/jquery-ui.min.js"></script>
Three.js
Three.js is a JavaScript library that allows you to create WebGL (or 3D viewing) in your browser. The library has been used to render 3D objects in web applications such as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the Batmobile experience, +360 Degrees Car Visualizer, Trigger Rally etc. Three.js will come in handy where creation of 3D environments (e.g. online 3D games) matters.
Website: http://threejs.org/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/threejs/r67/three.min.js"></script>
Prototype
This is an awesome JavaScript library that takes the complexity out of scripting. The library adds valuable extensions and APIs to your scripting environment allowing you to take AJAX and DOM (Document Object Model) to the next level.
Website: http://prototypejs.org/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.2.0/prototype.js"></script>
Web Font Loader
If you link to fonts using @font-face, Web Font Loader gives you extra control over your fonts. This library provides a great interface for loading fonts whether they are from Google fonts, Fontdeck, Fonts.com, Typekit or self-hosted fonts.
Website: https://github.com/typekit/webfontloader
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/webfont/1.5.3/webfont.js"></script>
SWFObject
Using a single JavaScript file (meaning it loads fast!), SWFObject allows you to embed Flash content easily while adhering to web standards.
Website: http://code.google.com/p/swfobject/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/swfobject/2.2/swfobject.js"></script>
Script.aculo.us
According to their beautiful designed website, Script.aculo.us gives you an easy-to-use and cross-browser JavaScript library to make all your web applications fly. This JavaScript library is used on sites such as NASA, Gucci, Apple, Backpack and IKEA just to mention a few.
Website: http://script.aculo.us/
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/scriptaculous/1.9.0/scriptaculous.js"></script>
Velocity.js
This is an animation engine that replaces jQuery’s $.animate() with $.velocity for greater performance. Velocity.js comes with great features and it’s faster than CSS animation libraries. While zipped, Velocity.js is only 9Kb and is best for known for features such as SVG support, scrolling, easings, transforms, loops and color animations. Used by Tumblr, Huawei and MailChimp among others.
Blast.js
We can never underestimate the place of typography in web design. We all love typography, and Blast.js gives you all the power you need to manipulate typography in unique ways. With four delimiters i.e. character, element, word and sentence, Blast.js allows you to use CSS and JavaScript to style your content as you deem fit. You have to see Blast.js in action.
Conclusion
We hope the above fifteen (15) jQuery libraries will help you to add dynamism, color and life to your web design projects now and in the future. Please share your favorite jQuery library (or plugin) with us in the comments :).
