A Web Developer’s FAQ on jQuery Mobile

I am confident that one fine day, jQuery Mobile will be a top choice to build top-notch Mobile Web Applications!  Though that day has not arrived yet, I am sure it will.  I have recently written a post on an Introduction to jQuery Mobile – but this post is an FAQ on jQuery Mobile for Web Developers, especially those working on Mobile Devices.

What is jQuery Mobile?

A Javascript and CSS Framework that makes Mobile Web Development across Devices with varied Characteristics and Support, as seamless as possible

What are the Advantages of using the UI framework from jQuery Mobile?

jQuery Mobile comes from the same community that builds jQuery Core & UI.  So ultimately one should expect to have all the UI Components available with the Web Framework on Mobile.

Next is the ability of the framework to bring in Native-like UI Controls, Elements and Transitions to the supported devices.  And this comes inherently from the Framework, with huge abstraction to the Developer from any related Javascript and/or CSS

Why jQuery Mobile when already Sencha Touch and few other frameworks are in place?

Sencha Touch is a powerful Javascript Framework for Mobile Web Applications.  jQuery Mobile differs in 2 main aspects with respect to other competent frameworks:

• Sencha Touch and other similar frameworks are primarily targeted for Touch Screen and high end Devices.  But jQuery Mobile covers a broader spectrum and promises to support a huge range of Smartphones, which makes it suitable for certain Business cases
• jQuery Mobile abstracts (almost) all the Javascript from the Web Developer.  As long as the HTML is semantically developed as per the jQuery Mobile Specifications, the big job of transforming them into Javascript/CSS is handled by the framework

Any Downsides of jQuery Mobile?

The only downside I can think of right now - is the inability to “progressively” integrate jQuery Mobile with existing Web Pages.

By this it means that if you want your existing Web Page, that doesn’t obey the jQuery Mobile HTML Semantics to use a jQuery Mobile UI Element like a Slider – then it wouldn’t work. I see this as a drawback because all the existing Web Pages must be rewritten to obey the framework  Semantics, which is a pain

Can I customize the Web Pages developed using jQuery Mobile?

jQuery Mobile follows the Theming framework which works well with jQuery UI for customization.  So, the answer is Yes – customization is possible with Theming

How I do follow the Progress on jQuery Mobile?

These two resources should help you to keep track of the progress on jQuery Mobile:

jQuery Mobile Blog

jQuery Mobile Forum

And also, this Current Blog where I plan to cover jQuery Mobile frequently and as things happen

Photo Credit: Eneas on Flickr