How to save the resource in our application code ? Should we repeat writing the same code in every page/file ? We can save a lot of our time and resource by putting the same code or lines into a function or procedure.
That’s what we exactly do to save coding effort. We use jQeury to write less code and do more !
jQuery UI provides abstractions for low-level interaction and animation, advanced effects and high-level, themeable widgets, built on top of the jQuery JavaScript Library, that you can use to build highly interactive web applications. We use jQuery extensively for our services to write less code and do more with less code.
With jQuery, you can get to just about anything on a Web page. Its syntax makes it easy to quickly locate HTML DOM elements. While this is readily available with standard JavaScript, jQuery presents a streamlined syntax that allows you to reduce coding tasks with less code and less time.
Today, we will have a look at few creative uses of jQuery in modern day websites and applications; sure to inspire you for your next project. Let us know if you want any of these inspirations to be part of your web application design. We can do it for you.
Try our demo jQuery page here - CoWave- Playback comments using jQuery
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Dragon Interactives jQuery Navigation
These guys are pretty much Gods of web design, and their site really proves it. Just have a look at the custom jQuery navigation they used on their homepage. Have you ever seen such a sexy navigation in your life?
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FamSpams FaceBox
FamFamFam needed a custom lightbox like script for FamSpam (whew, say that three times). They ended up building what is now know as FaceBox, which replicates the effects of lightbox, but goes above and beyond by allowing you to load in static html pages, contact forms, anything you wish really! FaceBox is now a jQuery plugin after all the demand for their script.
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Grooveshark Widget Creator
Instead of going with a typical flash menu/control menu, Grooveshark mixed it up a bit and built a custom jQuery script to allow you to make your own music widgets; pretty nifty indeed.
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CSS-Tricks Fade-In Navigation
CSS-Tricks, by Chris Coyier, is next up on the list with a wonderfully simple and creative jQuery navigation. When the links are hovered over, instead of immediately changing colors, jQuery is used to help the color fade slowly to the desired color.
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David Walsh Link Nudge
Developer David Walsh of DavidWalsh.name implements an extremely simple to use script to give your links a little nudge on hover. The script utilizes the strong animation capabilities of jQuery triggered on hover. Check out the links in the sidebar and in the footer to see the effect in action.
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CarrotCreative-Custom Sites Lightbox
If you check out the CarrotCreative website, you will actually notice two really unique jQuery effects. Firstly, if you click on sites in the upper left, you will see a unique application of a ‘lightbox’ like effect listing their sites and icons. Secondly, if you click on any navigation links, you will notice there is no refresh, but that the new page just slides in from the right. Cool stuff!
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BrightCreative Portfolio
Another “two for one” special, Bright Creative uses an extremely subtle glow effect in their navigation that is very calming and warm. In addition, all of their portfolio pages have a tabbing effect, so their is no need for the user to refresh the page every time - thanks to AJAX and jQuery.
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Incredible Login Form
Not too long ago, Connor Zwick wrote us a nice tutorial that demonstrates exactly how to build an amazing drop-down login form.
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Application Scroller by Aviary
It would be an insult to call this a type of ‘marquee’ (shivers uttering that word). Instead, Aviary came up with a very nice looking and functioning ‘scroller’ to showcase a lot of text in a small amount of space. Even better is that the scroller will degrade gracefully is javascript is disabled.
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Featured Fade Effect by DesignFlavr
DesignFlavr, known for their great sources of design inspiration, put together a simple fadeIn/fadeOut script to showcase their featured artwork and corresponding descriptions. Also, they’ve used the lavalamp plugin quite well on their main navigation.
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Hv-Designs Fade In RSS Icon
On the Hv-Designs homepage, you will notice the the RSS icon starts off as an outline/sketch of the actual image. Then, when hovered, the rss icons ‘glows’ into place.
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Codas Entire Website
Coda is well known for its amazing UI and site design. It set a fire under the jQuery plugin community by inspiring many developers to re create their page tabbing effect. In addition, they have a wonderful on hover effect on the links located in the header.
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Clark Lab Fading Effect
ClarkLab is a well known and very successful author on ThemeForest. If you visit his portfolio below, you will notice the large header images eventually fade to the next, showcasing all of his latest work. The fade effect is so well done and subtle, you barely notice the new image showing up.
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Rob Young | E is for Effort
Designer and Art Director Rob Young used a unique idea of displaying his artwork on a simulated Mac screen. Then using jQuery scrolling effects, each new page slides into the page view as if it is being loaded on a computer.
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Web Designer Wall
Besides being a visually stunning website, WDW features some unique custom jQuery scripting to add classes to certain elements on hover. Check out the effects when the rss and navigation items are hovered over.
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Junaid W. Hanif
Another really cool tabbing effect - instead of arrows however, pagination and AJAX is used to create a sleek and clean user experience. Plus, the navigation has a very nice albeit simple effect.
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KomodoMedia
We’ve saved our absolute favorite site for last. First, just look at that design, it’s wonderfully unique and comforting. Using one of the most creative jQuery scripts we have ever seen, KM has a ‘foliage-o-meter’ slider where sliding it either increases or decreases the foliage and design of the theme, depending on the direction the slider is moved.
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Keep in mind that jQuery is simply a tool and is only limited by your creativity and skill level. Get unique with your designs and development process and you might be surprised to see great results occur.
