Vanilla.JS vs jQuery: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Vanilla.JS and jQuery

Vanilla.JS is a term used to refer to pure JavaScript without any external dependencies, libraries, or frameworks. On the other hand, jQuery is a fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library.

1. Syntax and Code Length: Vanilla.JS code tends to have longer syntax, which can make the code more verbose. jQuery, on the other hand, provides a shorter and more concise syntax, allowing developers to write code in a more compact manner.

2. DOM Manipulation: Vanilla.JS uses the built-in methods and properties provided by the browser to manipulate the Document Object Model (DOM). jQuery simplifies DOM manipulation by providing a set of cross-browser compatible methods and functions that abstract away the complexities of working directly with the DOM.

3. Ajax and XMLHttpRequest: Vanilla.JS requires the use of the XMLHttpRequest object to make Ajax requests, which involves more manual coding. jQuery simplifies Ajax requests by providing an easy-to-use Ajax method with built-in features like automatic serialization, error handling, and support for various data formats.

4. Event Handling: Vanilla.JS uses the addEventListener method to attach event handlers to elements, which can result in more code for handling events. In contrast, jQuery provides a unified event handling API that simplifies attaching and detaching event handlers, as well as handling events across different browsers.

5. Browser Compatibility: Vanilla.JS leverages the native browser features, so it is inherently compatible with all modern browsers. jQuery, on the other hand, abstracts away browser differences and provides a consistent API, ensuring compatibility across multiple browsers and versions.

6. Performance and Size: Vanilla.JS code can be more optimized in terms of performance and can result in smaller file sizes compared to using jQuery. jQuery's extensive feature set and compatibility layer come at the cost of some performance overhead and larger file size.

In Summary, Vanilla.JS offers a more lightweight and optimized approach to JavaScript development, while jQuery provides a rich set of features and simplifies common tasks like DOM manipulation and Ajax requests.