REFERENCING MAGIC - SHORTCUTS FOR JQUERY

If you don't like typing the full "jQuery" all the time, there are some alternative shortcuts:

Reassign jQuery to another shortcut
var $j = jQuery;
(This might be the best approach if you wish to use different libraries)
Use the following technique, which allows you to use $ inside of a block of code without permanently overwriting $:
(function($) { /* some code that uses $ */ })(jQuery)
Note: If you use this technique, you will not be able to use Prototype methods inside this capsuled function that expect $ to be Prototype's $, so you're making a choice to use only jQuery in that block.
Use the argument to the jQuery(document).ready(function($) {})
DOM ready event:
jQuery(function($) { /* some code that uses $ */ });
Note: Again, inside that block you can't use Prototype methods.