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JavaScript jQuery Basics (2014) Creating a Simple Lightbox Perform: Part 2

Bryan Castleman
Bryan Castleman
9,520 Points
Posted by Bryan Castleman
Bryan Castleman
9,520 Points

Why are singular quotation marks used when assigning a variable to a div ?

in the following: var $overlay = $(' ') ?

1 Answer

Jason Anello
Jason Anello
Courses Plus Student 94,610 Points

Hi Bryan,

In this case single quotes were used to wrap the string because it contains double quotes which were used for the id attribute.

Jason Anello
Jason Anello
Courses Plus Student 94,610 Points

You could wrap with double quotation marks on the outside but then you have to escape the double quotations marks on the inside with a backslash \

var $overlay = $("<div id=\"overlay\"></div>"); This is coming at the expense of readability

Alternatively, you can use double quotes on the outside and single quotes on the inside:

var $overlay = $("<div id='overlay'></div>");

Bryan Castleman
Bryan Castleman
9,520 Points
Bryan Castleman
Bryan Castleman
9,520 Points

I see. Thanks for clearing that up.