Most efficient way to re-use jQuery-selected elements

Question

I can imagine the correct answer to this based on theory, but I\'m just looking for some confirmation. I\'m wondering what the most efficient way to re-use a jQuery-selected ele

Answer 1

One thing that I find is generally overlooked is just how powerful jQuery chains are. It may not be so noticeable, but since jQuery caches your wrapped elements within a chain, you can modify elements, go into a more specific subset, modify, then go back up into a a general superset without much overhead.

I expect something like (pardon the example)

$('#myDiv')
    .addClass('processing')
    .find('#myInput')
    .hide('slow')
    .end()
    .removeClass('processing')
    ;

to be better performance-wise than even

var $myDiv = $('#myDiv').addClass('processing');
var $myInput = $('#myDiv #myInput').hide('slow');
    $myDiv.removeClass('processing');