Plugins

Objectives

• Describe what jQuery plugins are used for

• Answer the question "Why aren't good or approved plugins included in the standard jQuery library?"

• Include and implement jQuery plugins on web pages

• Experiment with different plugins

What is a Plugin?

Plugins are methods that extend jQuery's functionality. jQuery's plugin docs tell us to think of the methods that come with jQuery core (eg. .addClass()) as plugins too, but normally the term plugin refers that other people have written. These plugins aren't included in basic jQuery so we'll have to pull them in by downloading the code or using a CDN.

Why aren't plugins just included in the standard jQuery library?

• extra code that you don't use just bogs down your project

• unopinionated -> customizable

How to implement

jQuery plugins require jQuery in order to work, so the script tag that pulls in the plugin must come after the one that pulls in jQuery.

jQueryUI

jQuery has it's own library of plugins for widgets and interactions called jQueryUI. You can find the CDNs for jQuery and jQueryUI here.

The demos page has examples of the plugins implemented.

jQuery UI also provides elements with 'themes' or styling. In order to use these styled elements (dropdowns, accordions, etc.), be sure to include the appropriate jQueryUI CSS stylesheet in the head tag as well.

Example: Datepicker

• Demo
• Docs

Exercise:

Use jQueryUI accordion to make an accordion menu.

Exercise:

Implement sortable into your jQuery to-do list if you haven't already.

Codepen Examples:

See the Pen jQuery UI Examples by Brian Hague (@bhague1281) on CodePen.