Introduction
We are in 2026.
We have artificial intelligence everywhere, autonomous cars and automation for almost everything. So if someone tells you that jQuery has just released its 4.0 version.the first thing you think of is:
"jQuery... yet?"
And yes.
Not only is it still alive, but just turned 20 years old and celebrates with a major updateThis has not been the case for a decade.
Far from being a joke or a relic of the past, jQuery 4.0 arrives with major changes that directly affect million websitesespecially those built on WordPresswhere it continues to be a key part of the ecosystem.
Table of Contents
A bit of history: 20 years of jQuery
jQuery was born on January 14, 2006when John Resig presented this JavaScript library at a BarCamp in New York.
Since then:
✅ Changed the way JavaScript is written.
✅ Simplified complex tasks
✅ Enabled the web to grow faster.
✅ Directly influenced modern browser APIs.
Many things we take for granted in JavaScript today exist. thanks to jQuery.
Why is jQuery 4.0 important?
Because it is not a minor upgrade.
They have passed 10 years without a major versionand that only happens when a bookstore:
🔶 It is stable
🔶 It is mature
🔶 Still widely used
A larger version involves breaking changesi.e., changes that may affect existing code if not properly reviewed.
And yet, jQuery continues to move forward responsibly.
Key changes in jQuery 4.0
1. Final farewell to Internet Explorer 10
At last, jQuery 4.0 removes support for Internet Explorer 10.
Internet Explorer 11 still remains, but there are already clear plans to remove it completely in jQuery 5.0.
This marks an important step towards a more modern and secure ecosystem.
Improvements in safety and modern standards
jQuery 4.0 introduces improvements related to:
- Trusted HTML
- Content Security Policy (CSP)
- Script injection prevention
- Safer handling of Ajax requests
This is key for productive sites, especially in environments like WordPress.
3. Full migration to ECMAScript Modules (ESM)
This is one of the most historic changes.
All jQuery code now uses ECMAScript Modulesaligning with modern JavaScript standards.
This facilitates:
- Better maintenance
- Cleaner integrations
- Future compatibility
4. Elimination of obsolete APIs
Many features that jQuery offered in the past:
- Already exist natively in JavaScript
- They had been in demand for years
jQuery 4.0 removes them for:
- Reduce weight
- Improve performance
- Simplify the internal code
So... why not let jQuery die?
This is the big question.
The answer is simple and very healthy for the web ecosystem:
Because there are millions of sites that still rely on jQuery.
Forcing a mass migration would be:
❌ Costly
❌ Risky
❌ Unrealistic
Keeping jQuery up to date allows you to:
✅ Older sites remain secure
✅ Stable projects do not break down
WordPress to continue to function correctly
This is not technological backwardness, it is technical responsibility.
Should you use jQuery in a new project?
The honest answer is:
❌ Not the first choice today.
✅ But it's not something you should hate either.
Modern JavaScript can do almost everything natively, but jQuery still offers:
🔶 Ergonomics
🔶 Speed of development
🔶 Simplicity for common tasks
And if your project already uses jQuery (like WordPress), there is no reason to eliminate it because of technological hatred.
WordPress, jQuery and the current reality
Let's be clear: WordPress continues to rely on jQuery in many areas.
And that's not a bad thing.
Thanks to jQuery follows:
- Maintained
- Insurance
- Updated
WordPress can:
- Evolve without breaking millions of sites
- Maintain backward compatibility
- Ensuring stability
At ClickPanda we see it every day in real places, not in theories.
We owe more to jQuery than we think we do.
Many modern browser APIs exist because jQuery:
✅ Established patterns
✅Simplified complex problems.
✅Pushed the evolution of the web ecosystem.
Also querySelector exists thanks to the direct influence of jQuery.
To hate him today is to forget all that he has allowed us to build.
Conclusion
jQuery 4.0 demonstrates something very clear:
- Not the latest technology
- Not the most commonly used in new projects
- But it is still relevant
- Continues to be maintained
- It is still necessary
In a world where everything changes fast, stability is also a virtue.
Long live the king.
