Now, let’s get to the most crucial part: how to include jQuery in our projects? You know, that magical library that makes websites more interactive. There are actually a few ways, but the most popular two are CDN and local setup. Which is more logical, faster, more secure? Let’s take a look together.
First, let’s start with CDN. If you’re wondering what a CDN means, it stands for Content Delivery Network. That is, a system that distributes your content across servers around the world. Using jQuery’s CDN means, instead of downloading that library to your own computer and adding it to your project, you fetch it from a ready-made server online. Isn’t that great? Browsers love this because if another site also uses the same CDN, jQuery is already in the browser’s cache. That means your page opens faster, and your server’s load decreases. Super summary. Of course, the biggest advantage here is speed. If you have internet, everything runs smoothly.
But there’s another side to this. Whenever your internet connection drops, you’re in trouble. No internet, no jQuery. All the interactive features and everything else remains where it is. Think of it like a refrigerator not cooling when there’s a power outage. Or, imagine you have a great recipe but the stove in the kitchen isn’t working. That’s when you experience the disadvantage of CDN. Although most places have internet now, unpredicted situations can happen, and you never know what will happen.
Additionally, this CDN issue is not just about speed but also about security. Reliable CDN providers like Google, Microsoft, CDNJS, and the official jQuery sites update the library constantly and fix potential security vulnerabilities. You always use the most up-to-date and secure version. Isn’t that nice? Instead of managing on your own server, you’re leaving it to the experts.
Now, let’s look at local setup. What does that mean? Download the library yourself and host it on your own server, in your own folder structure. Basically, you keep everything under your control. Even if your internet is down, your site continues to work. Because all necessary files are ready on your server. It’s like your stove is working at home, you have your recipe, and you can cook whenever you want. It’s a much more controlled method. Also, sometimes download speeds from the internet can be slow, but your own server can serve files faster. Of course, this depends on your internet speed and server status.
But local setup also has its own difficulties. First, you need to manage the files yourself. When a new version of jQuery is released, you need to download it and update your files. That’s an extra workload. Sometimes, it’s easier to use the ready-made version instead of setting everything up. With local setup, you need to handle updates yourself. Otherwise, you risk using an outdated and potentially insecure version. These small details can become troublesome as your project grows.
Honestly, I’ve used both. Sometimes I use CDN in one project, and local setup in another. Why? Because it varies according to project needs. If I need to create a very fast website and internet disconnection is unlikely, I prefer CDN. Especially for blogs, news sites, and content-focused pages, it works well. But for offline applications or projects with high security requirements, local setup makes more sense.
So, how do we do this? Let me show with code examples. Like the famous ‘Hello World’ approach. Let’s first try CDN: