How to create jQuery functions?

Question

I have seen a few different approaches to create jQuery(-namespaced) functions, but I cannot quite tell the actual difference between them.

jQuery.fn.myFunction = function() { ... };

jQuery.myFunction = function() { ... };

jQuery.fn.extend({ myFunction: function() { ... } });

David Hedlund · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-02 11:24:19Z

6

jQuery.fn.myFunction is what you use to create functions that will be available on every jQuery result set:

$('div').myFunction();

jQuery.myFunction is what you use to create helper functions that are just available on the jQuery object, such as $.inArray

Your last version extends the $.fn object with a new function, and is as such the functional equivalent of your first example.

answered Dec 2, 2010 at 11:24

David Hedlund

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