How to Use jQuery on Your Website

Last Updated: May 11, 2017

jQuery is the most popular JavaScript language by far, used by many popular websites across the Internet. However, since it is a library, it is not a part of unaltered JavaScript. How, then, can you use jQuery on your website? The process is surprisingly simple and easy, and this article will guide you through it!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Loading jQuery

1
Decide whether you will use a CDN or host the jQuery file yourself. Remember, since jQuery isn't a part of unaltered JavaScript, you will need to load the source code before running your own code. A CDN (Content Delivery Network) has a free-to-use file that you can link to in order to load jQuery on your webpage.
2
Create a <script> tag in the head of your HTML document.
3
Inside your tag, type src="(Link to your jQuery file here, but don't include the parentheses)" .
- Google's CDN is located at https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.3/jquery.min.js.
4
Make sure the script tag is positioned before any script tags that use jQuery. Otherwise, jQuery will not work.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Writing jQuery Within the HTML Document

1
Inside your HTML head, create another script tag below your tag that loads jQuery.
- Writing type="text/javascript" is unnecessary because JavaScript is the default language for script tags in HTML 5.
2
Within your tag, type your jQuery code.
3
Test your code once finished.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Linking to an External File

1
Determine where you will host your jQuery file. It should be a file from the official jQuery website, preferably the production version.
2
Create another script tag after the tag that loads jQuery.
- Again, writing type="text/javascript" is unnecessary because JavaScript is the default language for script tags in HTML 5.
3
Inside your opening script tag, write src="(location of your file)".
4
Make sure nothing lies between your script tags.
5
Test to make sure your code works.