jQuery is a fast and concise JavaScript library created by John Resig in 2006. jQuery simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for Rapid Web Development.

jQuery also provides a paradigm for event handling that goes beyond basic DOM element selection and manipulation. The event assignment and the event callback function definition are done in a single step in a single location in the code. jQuery also aims to incorporate other highly used JavaScript functionality (e.g. fade ins and fade outs when hiding elements, animations by manipulating CSS properties).