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JavaScript

Posted by Matt Van Dyck
Matt Van Dyck
2,033 Points

Basic JQuery Question

Hello, I am new to team treehouse and new to Javascript. I am starting to get a grip on how to code with javascript, but I am confused with one part. I am confused when calling the .click(function() method and defining the variables. In the jquery beginner project I created the following code:

$(".order_now").click(function() {
        var $link = $(this)
        $link.next().show("slow");
        $link.remove();
        return false;
    });

Specifically, what I do not understand is this line: var $link = $(this) What is the significance of that line? I understand what the code is doing below that, but why are we calling out the link variable like that?

Thank you for your help!

2 Answers

Adam Moore
Adam Moore
15,825 Points

The $(this) in jQuery refers to the element you are within in context to where it's being called. In this case it refers to the $(".order_now") link. It's a good idea to set it to a variable as you often use it more than once.

You'll get more into this soon if you continue to go through the jQuery tutorial.

Matt Van Dyck
Matt Van Dyck
2,033 Points

Thanks for the quick response! So setting the links within the .order_now class to = $(this) is just because we are referring to it multiple times within that function? What would happen if I did not set the link as a variable?

Adam Moore
Adam Moore
15,825 Points
Adam Moore
Adam Moore
15,825 Points

If you just use $(this) without setting a variable everything is the same but it becomes less performant in longer code. If you have multiple items and you tried to access it with the $(".order_now") selector it would select all with that class and not just the one in relation to the link you clicked.