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I have a bit of experience in creating web applications using asp.net however I am a complete newbie when it comes to creating mobile applications.

I am just embarking on my first mobile app and I have gotten a bit confused with all the various technologies/ frameworks out there and where they all fit in.

To take the example of a web application (which i am familiar with), the client side would be HTML + CSS + JS and the server side would be ASP.net / PHP / JSP or some such other combination. I have frequently used Jquery as my Javascript Framework.

My initial understanding with a mobile application was that I would use HTML5 + CSS + JS for the UI just like i would for a web application. Hence, it made sense to use JQuery again for the javascript programming.

However, i stumbled upon JQuery Mobile and though i browsed through some of the basic documentation on JQuery Mobile, i am at a loss to understand

Why is there a need for a separate JQuery framework for mobile apps and what does it offer that is different from JQuery? Also, if i am building a mobile app using the web standards of HTML 5, CSS 3 and JS, should i be using JQuery or JQuery Mobile?

Jagmag
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  • After a bit more digging through SO, the highest voted answer for http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4344259/good-jquery-mobile-walkthrough-or-tutorial-for-a-jquery-developer gave me excellent links which answered my question and clarified my doubts – Jagmag May 26 '11 at 10:57

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If you're specifically targeting mobile devices, you have different requirements:

  1. Touch UI
  2. Smaller footprint (no need for all that IE-specific code)
  3. Different browsers (Symbian? Blackberry?)

Those aren't things that are specifically addressed by jQuery, and since it has a different purpose, really shouldn't be.

Update: Apparently JQM is built on top of jQuery, so my statement about a smaller footprint is incorrect.

Jerod Venema
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  • Thanks! That does make a bit more sense to me now. However, just to elaborate, though i am making a mobile app, i was thinking of making it using HTML standards - which would mean not having touch specific features - or am i mistaken here? Also, if i understand your last point correctly, just like JQuery supports various web browsers, if i am to get support for different mobile browsers seamlessly, JQuery Mobile should be my choice? – Jagmag May 26 '11 at 03:35
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    Actually jQuery Mobile is built on top of jQuery, so the smaller footprint point is not correct. – Paul Beusterien May 26 '11 at 05:32
  • Touch events provided by phone and accessed/responded by JavaScript. jQuery Mobile is in alpha stage. It is usable but there are few bugs. Suport for non webkit browsers somewhat not as good as webkit ones. And I personally don't like how jQM's gui elements rendered on Android atm. – nLL May 26 '11 at 07:41