jquery-min version?

Question

I noticed that there is always a "min" version (stands for mini?) for most JavaScript libraries (e.g., jQuery).

What is the difference? Less functionality but smaller size?

Is this something someone should consider using? (There are a lot of min versions out there.)

Answer 1

The functionality is exactly the same - just open the minified and the "normal" versions in a text editor and you'll see the difference.

The min-Versions are just there to provide reduced filesize, to save you bandwith and traffic ;-)

Answer 2

same functions...smaller size. Think of it as poor mans compression. They simply remove all unneccessary whitespace.

Answer 3

Its been "minified". All the functionaility is there, just in a minified version that is smaller for saving transfer bandwidth.

Things to become "minified":

• Remvoing whitespace
• Renaming some variables - such as function-scoped variables, not function names.

Here is an example

function myFunction(someReallyLongParamName)
{
    someReallyCrazyName = someReallyLongParamName;
}

could be come

function myFunction(a){b=a;}

Answer 4

...in computer programming languages and especially JavaScript, is the process of removing all unnecessary characters from source code, without changing its functionality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minification_(programming)

Answer 5

Smaller size because all of the white space is removed from the file. Just open both files in text editor and you will see.

Answer 6

no, exactly the same function, the text has been minimized to reduce the download, this means you cant really debug in it but you do get the same functionality