JavaScript Library : Jquery or Mootools

I have recently ditched the MooTools Javascript library in favor of the jQuery Javascript library. What that means is I have removed the MooTabs and SmoothGallery from this website and replaced them with jQuery scripts instead. My reasons for giving up MooTools…

1. WordPress uses the jQuery Javascript library in the admin pages. In fact, you will find the jQuery files in the “wp-includes/js/jquery” directory.
2. WordPress has built-in support for the jQuery library. The wp enqueue script function has a list of supported jQuery libraries and widgets but none for MooTools.
3. Some of my favorite WordPress plugins like the NextGen gallery use jQuery so I have to load the jQuery library on my website.
4. I didn’t want to have 2 different Javascript libraries on my website because it would increase the loading time of my pages.
5. I found better and simpler jQuery scripts to replace MooTabs and SmoothGallery on my website.

Since jQuery is so well integrated into the WordPress platform, I don’t wish to reinvent the wheel and use MooTools on top of jQuery.

I found this on another’s blogs explaining the differences between jQuery and MooTools:

Mootools :

“MooTools is aimed more at JavaScript developers, while jQuery is more for people who want to implement JavaScript functionality in the easiest possible way.”

JQuery :

“jQuery is for people who aren’t necessarily interested in delving deep into JavaScript while MooTools provides an object-oriented framework for hardcore JavaScript development. This is why most people find MooTools harder to use in comparison to jQuery.”

As a web developer, I personally find jQuery a lot easier to work with than MooTools. It really makes coding in Javascript and creating cool effects a lot easier.

jQuery suits my needs better than MooTools because I only use it to create some special effects on websites and I have no desire or need to learn very advanced Javascript.

If you go to the jQuery site, here’s what it says at the top of the page:

“jQuery is a fast and concise JavaScript Library that simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for rapid web development. jQuery is designed to change the way that you write JavaScript.”

…and if you go to MooTools, this is what you’ll find:

“MooTools is a compact, modular, Object-Oriented JavaScript framework designed for the intermediate to advanced JavaScript developer. It allows you to write powerful, flexible, and cross-browser code with its elegant, well documented, and coherent API.”