Is jQuery Dead?
Introduction
The claim that "jQuery is dead" has been circulating in the web development community, suggesting that the once-dominant JavaScript library is no longer relevant or widely used. This assertion raises questions about the current state of jQuery, its usage statistics, and whether developers are moving towards newer technologies.
What We Know
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Usage Statistics: According to W3Techs, as of June 2025, jQuery is used by approximately 73.4% of all websites that utilize JavaScript libraries [2]. BuiltWith reports a similar trend, indicating jQuery's continued dominance with a market share of around 89.1% among JavaScript libraries [4][5].
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Current Relevance: A blog post from Quality Hive argues that jQuery may be losing its relevance as modern browsers have integrated many features that jQuery was initially created to simplify. The article suggests that developers are increasingly favoring frameworks and libraries that align with contemporary development practices [7].
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Developer Sentiment: Discussions in developer forums and articles indicate a mixed sentiment. While some developers assert that jQuery is outdated, others continue to find it useful for specific projects, particularly for legacy systems or simpler tasks [7].
Analysis
The claim that jQuery is "dead" appears to be an oversimplification of its current status.
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Source Reliability: The usage statistics from W3Techs and BuiltWith are generally regarded as reliable within the tech community, as they aggregate data from a wide range of websites. However, it's important to note that these statistics may not fully represent the trends in newer projects, which may favor modern frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js.
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Bias and Conflicts of Interest: The article from Quality Hive presents a viewpoint that aligns with a broader trend in web development towards newer technologies. However, it does not provide specific data to quantify how many developers are moving away from jQuery. This could indicate a potential bias towards promoting newer frameworks.
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Methodology Concerns: While the usage statistics are compelling, they do not necessarily reflect the context in which jQuery is used. For instance, many websites may still use jQuery for legacy support, even if new projects are opting for alternatives. A deeper analysis of the types of projects using jQuery versus newer libraries would provide a clearer picture.
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Additional Information Needed: To better understand the claim, it would be helpful to have more detailed surveys or studies that explore the reasons developers choose to use or abandon jQuery. Insights into the types of projects (e.g., startups vs. established companies) that are moving away from jQuery could also provide valuable context.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The assertion that "jQuery is dead" is misleading. Evidence indicates that jQuery continues to be widely used, with approximately 73.4% of websites utilizing it as of June 2025, according to reliable sources like W3Techs and BuiltWith. While there is a growing trend towards modern frameworks, the claim fails to consider the significant number of projects that still rely on jQuery, particularly for legacy support and simpler tasks.
It is important to recognize that while jQuery may be perceived as less relevant in certain contexts, it remains a valuable tool for many developers. The nuances of its usage suggest that it is not entirely accurate to declare it "dead."
However, the available evidence has limitations; it does not fully capture the dynamics of newer projects or the specific reasons developers may choose to move away from jQuery. More comprehensive studies would be beneficial to provide a clearer understanding of the landscape.
Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate such claims and consider the broader context before drawing conclusions about the relevance of technologies like jQuery.
Sources
- W3Techs. "jQuery usage statistics, June 2025." W3Techs [2].
- BuiltWith. "jQuery Usage Statistics." BuiltWith [4].
- wmtips.com. "25+ Most Popular JavaScript Libraries in 2025." wmtips.com [5].
- Quality Hive. "Is jQuery Worth Learning in 2025 or Is It No Longer Relevant?" Quality Hive [7].
