Is jQuery dead in 2024?

jQuery, once the king of frontend JavaScript libraries, isn’t nearly as popular as it once was.

But is its decline in popularity due to superficial “cosmetic issues” or have developers moved on to truly bigger and better technologies?

In other words: is jQuery dead?

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Search around the web, and there is no shortage of blogs with titles proclaiming that jQuery is dead – to the point of extinction.

But do those claims have merit in the real-world web development industry?

We’re checking in with a few of the 155 developers who responded to our poll: Do you still use jQuery for new projects?

There were some interesting patterns in the responses.

Firstly, many developers noted that they bypassed jQuery once they started using React. This may be because of the virtual DOM (as opposed to jQuery’s direct interaction with it), but the data is too incomplete to be conclusive.

Secondly, while the majority of developers polled said they don’t use jQuery for new projects, those who do use it were much more vocal in the comments section.

Here’s what people are saying:

codeChris says he tries not to use jQuery, but there are some big exceptions:

On NEW stuff… I intentionally try not to, but like if an API or plugin uses it  in their documentation i just follow suit, at least for that portion of the code. But I still use jQuery on the daily since alot of the sites I work on were built with it.

codeChris

Chris doesn’t go out of his way to use jQuery, but follows suit if the standard is already in place.

In a similar vein, Xero0077 says that it’s ease of integration with current workplace standards that keeps him pushing on with jQuery:

At my job we are rebuilding an app for new clients. Since the original one uses a lot of jQuery for client side validations the new ones will also be made with jQuery. Easier for us that way.

Xero0077

Tyler noted that it was React that motivated him to move on:

[…] Haven\’t touched that since I learned React which been like a year. I really don\’t see a reason for it. […]

Tyler

Craig also echoes the React sentiment:

I learned jQuery back in the day.  Once I started learning React, then I stopped using it.  I think that modern javascript can do everything that jQuery can.

Craig

And Candace chimes in as well, making it a React trifecta:

I remember using jQuery years ago and had to transition the company’s website to React framework.

Candace

Traversy Media has an interesting insight with the animation angle:

Animation is the one area where I think jQuery really comes in handy, especially if you lack CSS skills. As far as DOM, ajax, etc…no need at all for it…but then again you have smaller animation libraries…my opinion of course 🙂

Brad (Traversy Media)

Traversy makes a good point about jQuery coming to the rescue for CSS animations.

Dan makes the jQuery & Bootstrap connection with a bit of software news, confirming that jQuery is dead in an upcoming version of Bootstrap:

A lot of people only use jQuery because it\’s a dependency of Bootstrap. Bootstrap is dropping jQuery in v5…

Dan

Finally, Robin schools the new kids on the fresh perspective jQuery brought to the web game:

jQuery is what bought the LOVE for javascript! Before jQ showed up, JS was the bane to backend programmers existence due to browsers having their own APIs.  jQ abstracted alot of those differences so that ANY one who knew HTML and CSS could grok JS and build powerful interactive websites quickly.

Robin

As many of these developers noted, there are still many relevant use cases for jQuery.

However, recent advances in frontend JavaScript libraries and frameworks, along with Web APIs such as fetch() allow developers to achieve the same results (or better) as jQuery without the bloat or speed issues. Often there are better solutions.

So, is jQuery dead?

As MrGilSteiner sagely observes:

He ain’t dead. He just smells funny.

MrGilSteiner

Finally, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel where it’s all about software development. We talk about everything from jobs, to trends, and yes even jQuery smelling funny.

Developers who wonder if jQuery is dead are also reading:

• 7 Best jQuery Courses [Learn jQuery NOW]
• 10 Best CSS Books [Learn CSS & HTML ASAP]
• 12 Best React Books [Learn React ASAP for Beginners and Beyond]