/library/javascripts/jquery/sizzle/ReadMe.html

SIZZLE IS THE CSS SELECTOR ENGINE OF JQUERY.

It's used to select HTML elements by CSS selectors in a cross browser way. For example, document.getElementsByClassName is not supported by all browsers. Most notably, MSIE 7 doesn't support it. Of course, jQuery can do this too, but Sizzle is just the CSS selector engine.

Sizzle allows you to select HTML elements by CSS selectors and get the results as an array (faster), rather than a jQuery Collection Object. Also, sizzle.js is a significantly smaller file than jquery.js, so it loads faster. If you don't really need the power of jQuery, but you need to select HTML elements by CSS selectors in a cross browser way, Sizzle would be a faster, more streamlined way to do it than jQuery.

Sizzle Versions

In general, /library/javascripts/jquery/sizzle.js will be a symbolic link to the current minified version, and sizzle.latest.js will be a symbolic link to the latest version. Usually, they will be the same version, but that's not guaranteed.

Therefore, you should use sizzle.js for your applications (if you need to use it). That way, you won't be messed up by new version testing.

Usage

Include Sizzle on pages that do NOT already include jQuery. Example:

        <script src="#Variables.LibJsJqURL#/sizzle.js"></script>
        <script>
        var myArray                       = Sizzle(".myclassname");
        </script>

Do NOT include Sizzle on pages that already include jQuery, because it's already embedded inside jQuery as the find function. As noted in the parent directory's ReadMe.html file, that includes any page that contains a call to <cf_sbalookandfeel>. Use $.find() on pages that already include jQuery. Example (in a page that already includes jQuery):

        <script>
        var myArray                       = $.find(".myclassname");
        </script>

On a new page that's loaded into a frame of SBA Look-and-Feel, if you need to select elements by CSS selector, you have a decision to make. Should you include jQuery or Sizzle? The answer should be based on whether or not you actually need the power of jQuery. If you need to call a plug-in (such as the rich text editior), of course you need to include jquery.js. If you need to use some advanced feature of jQuery, such as .animate(), of course, include jquery.js. But if you don't really need all that power, your page will load faster and execute faster if you include sizzle.js instead. If you're concerned about being source code compatibility (in case you ever need to add jQuery to the page in the future), you can always define "$.find" yourself:

        <script src="#Variables.LibJsJqURL#/sizzle.js"></script>
        <script>
        var $                             = {find:Sizzle};
        // which allows you to say:
        var myArray                       = $.find(".myclassname");
        </script>