---
title: "What is the difference between document.getElementById() and $(selector) in jQuery?"  
description: "What is the difference between document.getElementById() and $(selector) in jQuery?"  
author: "Steilla Mitchel"  
published: 2023-06-09  
updated: 2023-06-10  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/158689/what-is-the-difference-between-document-getelementbyid-and-selector-in-jquery  
category: "jquery"  
tags: ["jquery ui", "jquery selectors"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# What is the difference between document.getElementById() and $(selector) in jQuery?

What is the [difference](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/157114/good-news-or-bad-news-and-the-difference-is) between document.getElementById() and $([selector](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/23419/action-selector-in-mvc)) in jQuery?

## Replies

### Reply by Aryan Kumar

The main difference between document.getElementById() and $(selector) in jQuery is that document.getElementById() returns a DOM object, while $(selector) returns a jQuery object.

A DOM object is a native JavaScript object that represents a HTML element in the document. It has a number of properties and methods that allow you to access and manipulate the element. For example, you can use the innerHTML property to get or set the element's HTML content, or you can use the appendChild() method to add a child element to the element.

A jQuery object is a wrapper around a DOM object. It provides a number of additional methods that make it easier to work with DOM objects. For example, you can use the css() method to set or get the element's CSS properties, or you can use the animate() method to animate the element's properties over time.

In general, you should use $(selector) instead of document.getElementById() when you are using jQuery. This is because $(selector) is more flexible and provides a wider range of functionality. However, if you are only working with a single DOM object, and you don't need to use any of the additional functionality provided by jQuery, then you can use document.getElementById().

Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between document.getElementById() and $(selector):

| Feature | document.getElementById() | $(selector) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Returns | DOM object | jQuery object |
| Functionality | Basic DOM manipulation | Advanced DOM manipulation, animation, event handling, etc. |
| Performance | Faster | Slower |

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## Additional notes:

- The $(selector) method can also be used to select multiple elements, while document.getElementById() can only be used to select a single element.
- The $(selector) method is supported by all browsers that support jQuery, while document.getElementById() is supported by all browsers that support JavaScript.
- The $(selector) method is generally considered to be more readable and maintainable than document.getElementById().


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/158689/what-is-the-difference-between-document-getelementbyid-and-selector-in-jquery

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