How to add jQuery in WordPress?

WordPress is a fantastic platform for creating high-quality websites. But sometimes you need a little extra oomph to make your site truly shine. That’s where jQuery comes in. WordPress development services use this powerful library to add interactivity, animations, and other cool features to your WordPress site. That takes it from basic to breathtaking.

Now the question is, “How to add jQuery to WordPress?”. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. In this blog, I’ll offer you the manual as well as plugin-based method to add jQuery to your WordPress website. But first, let’s see what jQuery is and why you might want to use it.

What is jQuery?

jQuery is a fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library. It simplifies tasks like HTML document traversal and manipulation, event handling, and animation. jQuery acts like a toolbox filled with ready-made functions that streamline common tasks. So the developers are able to achieve more while writing less code.

What Makes jQuery So Popular?

Well, there are a few features and offers that make jQuery popular among the web development experts.

• Makes JavaScript easier: Imagine having to write long chunks of complex JavaScript code for every little thing. jQuery simplifies this by providing concise and intuitive functions for tasks like DOM manipulation and even making AJAX requests.
• Cross-browser compatibility: It ensures your code works consistently across different web browsers. That saves you the headache of adjusting for browser quirks.
• Write less, do more: With jQuery, you can achieve the same effect in a few lines of code as you would with dozens of lines of raw JavaScript. This saves you time and makes your code cleaner and easier to maintain.
• Huge community and resources: jQuery has a vast community of developers and a wealth of resources available online. That makes it easier to find help and inspiration for your projects.

Remember, jQuery is not an alternative or replacement for JavaScript. It’s just a tool (but a good one) that sits on top of it, making it easier and more enjoyable to use. That’s why the best dedicated WordPress experts use jQuery in their websites.

Now, the question of the hour, “How to Add jQuery in WordPress?”. Let’s find out.

How to Add jQuery in WordPress?

When it comes to adding this JavaScript library in WordPress, there are two ways forward. One, you can add it manually by editing the theme file  function.php in the WordPress file structure. Or two, you can just choose the best WordPress plugin for enabling jQuery in your site.

But methods are easy. Choose the one you’re most comfortable with.

Manually

This method involves adding code directly to your WordPress theme files. While it gives you more control, it requires some technical knowledge.

Step 1: First you need to enable compatibility mode. Go to Appearance → Editor in your WordPress admin dashboard. Find your theme’s functions.php file and add this line at the top:

add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_jquery_enqueue' );
function my_jquery_enqueue() {
    wp_enqueue_script( 'jquery' );
}

You can also access functions.php through the FTP client.

Step 2: This step of creating a jQuery script file is optional, but I suggest you go for it. If you have custom jQuery code, create a new .js file in your theme’s js folder. Create the folder if it doesn’t exist. Add your jQuery code to this file.

Step 3: Now, you will enqueue your script. In the function.php file, add this code to enqueue your custom script:

wp_enqueue_script( 'my-custom-script', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/my-custom-script.js', array( 'jquery' ), '1.0.0', true );

Replace the file path and version number with your actual details.

This method will be a little technical (not too much). So if you’re not comfortable with it, you can either opt for the plugin approach or consult with WordPress development experts.

Through WordPress Plugin

Plugins are among the greatest assets of WordPress CMS. They are among the elements that make WordPress the best CMS. By installing plugins, not only can you get simple features on your website, but you can also add jQuery. Let’s find out how.

Some of the best plugins for adding jQuery to a WordPress website are Enable jQuery Migrate Helper and jQuery Updater.

Step 1: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.

Step 2: Search for a plugin like “jQuery Updater” or “Enable jQuery Migrate Helper”.

Step 3: Install and activate the plugin.

Step 4: Once activated, go to Settings and open the plugin settings. Then, configure the settings as necessary.

In case of “Enable jQuery Migrate Helper”, no additional settings are required. jQuery will be automatically enabled upon activation. That’s why it is the best option for you.

If you need further help with jQuery integration on your WordPress website, I suggest you consult with a WordPress development company.

Frequently Asked Questions

To Conclude

JQuery is a popular JavaScript library that makes it easier to add dynamic and interactive features to your website. Many WordPress themes and plugins use JQuery. So it’s important to have it installed on your site to ensure that these features work properly.

There are two ways to go about adding jQuery in WordPress websites. One, you can follow the manual method. For that, you will have to edit the functions.php file of your theme. Or you can go the less technical way, which is using a plugin like “Enable jQuery Migrate Helper”. Whichever method you choose, make sure to follow the instructions to the tee.

Need help with jQuery or anything related to WordPress? Then consult with our experts today!