jQuery Relevance Debate

The cluster discusses the ongoing relevance of jQuery in modern web development, debating whether it's still needed given native browser APIs, lighter alternatives like Alpine.js or HTMX, or if its convenience and plugins justify continued use.

📉 Falling 0.3x Web Development
7,964
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#1194
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
42
2008
203
2009
319
2010
449
2011
635
2012
658
2013
809
2014
658
2015
381
2016
669
2017
366
2018
444
2019
485
2020
276
2021
393
2022
440
2023
213
2024
312
2025
127
2026
85

Keywords

MooTools IE6 SPA CSS OP JS youmightnotneedjquery.com Alpine.js jquery.com BTW jquery unit test js code unit framework javascript dom plugins structured

Sample Comments

jgeerts Mar 15, 2013 View on HN

Probably the fact that you don't have to use jQuery if you don't want to.

thepratt Apr 5, 2017 View on HN

jQuery is no longer relevant. If using a framework it's just unnecessary bloat.

kwar13 Dec 4, 2025 View on HN

So js was great when jquery was the dominant library...?

zentechen Jul 1, 2011 View on HN

Why give up jQuery and learn another scripting language?

wolco Nov 19, 2017 View on HN

Just use jquery. In a few years jquery will be rediscovered and praised all over again.

LorenzoGood Feb 7, 2024 View on HN

I feel like most of Jquery has been re implemented as browser api's anyway.

_heimdall Sep 16, 2025 View on HN

Why would you need jquery today? What can it do that native browser APIs can't?

FlyingSnake Aug 16, 2022 View on HN

JQuery has better alternatives like Alpine.js or HTMX which are much lighter and easy to use.

gondo Jul 21, 2023 View on HN

Do you really need jQuery though? Pure JavaScript is viable these days.

V__ Oct 29, 2023 View on HN

It has been a long time since I used jQuery. What exactly is the usecase today? Is it just syntactic sugar or has it changed significantly?