How can I apply a jQuery plugin to a JavaScript DOM element?

Question

A couple of days ago I had a question about the use of a library called select2, that in the official documentation for its installation and use you have to obtain the element through jquery $('.mySelect').select2(); my doubt is what it does exactly when you do this action .select2(); (in a technical way) to the element and what would be the equivalent action doing it with document.getElementById('mySelect') .

Answer 1

It's a jQuery-Plugin . Underlying there is a function which has a reference to your selected element ( .mySelect ) in the this statement. Take a look here for more information https://learn.jquery.com/plugins/basic-plugin-creation/

Answer 2

Select2 is based on Jquery, can't use Select2 without Jquery.

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