jQuery often simplifies javascript programming and offers a lot of nice, easy to use front end features.
One way jquery simplifies things is with selectors. Here is a list of examples
Demonstrates the jQuery fade() method, hiding all <p> elements.
Demonstrates the jQuery fadeIn() method, showing (fading in) all <p> elements.
Demonstrates the jQuery fadeToggle() method, toggling all elements having the class 'toggle' using a fading effect.
A paragraph. This paragraph has the class 'toggle'.
Another paragraph. This paragraph is inside a div tag. The div tag has the class "toggle".
This sentence is inside a div tag, but not inside a paragraph. It should not hide with the <p> tags, but will be toggled with the 'toggle' class calls.