Can I use jQuery with Node.js?

javascript

nodejs

cheerio

async

byNikita Barsukov·Jan 22, 2025

Yes, you can use jQuery in Node.js by leveraging jsdom to simulate a browser-like environment. Here is how to configure it:

Install with npm install jsdom jquery
Then integrate:

const { JSDOM } = require('jsdom');
const { window } = new JSDOM();
const $ = require('jquery')(window);

// Who said Node.js and jQuery can't be friends? 💪
$('body').html('<div>Node and jQuery sitting on a tree</div>');
console.log($('div').text()); // Returns: "Node and jQuery sitting on a tree"

NOTE: jsdom provides a virtual DOM environment resembling a browser's DOM, thus enabling jQuery to operate server-side.

Advanced Usage and Performance Tips

Using Cheerio for Efficient Processing

For server-side DOM manipulation with lower overhead, Cheerio is a great choice. It provides a familiar jQuery syntax, suitable for simpler cases:

const cheerio = require('cheerio');
const $ = cheerio.load('<h2 class="title">Hello world</h2>');

// Hey, jQuery, watch me change this text like a boss! 😎
$('h2.title').text('Hello there!');
$('h2').addClass('welcome');

console.log($.html());
// Outputs: <h2 class="title welcome">Hello there!</h2>
// And just like that, the world changed! 🚀

AJAX in Node.js

Take advantage of jQuery's AJAX capabilities server-side:

const $ = require('jquery')(new JSDOM().window);

// Oh, just casually making a request here... 🚀
$.ajax({
	url: "https://api.example.com/data",
	success: function(data){
		console.log(data);
	},
	error: function(error){
		console.error("Oops, something went wrong 🙈 :", error);
	}
});

Real-time DOM Manipulation with nodeQuery

If your project requires real-time DOM manipulation on the server-side, nodeQuery might just be your hero. Particularly useful when paired with Express.

Tackling non-English content

When dealing with foreign characters, encoding can be tricky. The iconv-lite library, when combined with Cheerio, makes decoding a breeze.

const iconv = require('iconv-lite');
const BufferHelper = require('bufferhelper');

// Brace yourselves, foreign characters are coming! ⚔️
http.get(url, (res) => {
	let bufferHelper = new BufferHelper();
	res.on('data', (chunk) => {
		bufferHelper.concat(chunk);
	});
	res.on('end', () => {
		let decodedBody = iconv.decode(bufferHelper.toBuffer(), 'iso-8859-1');
		// Now, you can dance with Cheerio or other processors 💃
	});
});

Avoid callback chaos with async module

Managing a bunch of callbacks can get messy. The async library saves the day by making callback management smoother.

const async = require('async');
const $ = require('cheerio');

async.series([
	function(callback) {
		// Mildly performing wonders 😉
		callback(null, 'one');
	},
	function(callback) {
		// Act Casual. Awesome stuff currently under-process. 😎
		callback(null, 'two');
	},
],
function(err, results) {
	// our end result is now an array ['one', 'two']. Piece of cake 🍰!
});

Things to Remember

Device Compatibility

If you're serving jQuery generated content directly, ensure it's compatible across all client devices.

jQuery's current relevance

While jQuery has been a go-to tool, modern front-end frameworks have seen a rise. However, knowing how to use jQuery with Node.js adds to your arrow quiver.