Question

Disclaimer: Do not try this at home

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Why, if I am using jQuery, does $($) freeze the page?

Answer 1

$($) is a shortcut for $(document).ready($). So, it will run the function (when the DOM is ready or directly when this is already the case).

The function passed to .ready is passed the jQuery function for convenience (especially useful when you’re in noConflict mode). So, $($) will call $ with $ as argument – and everything will happen again, which is endless recursion.

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Another explanation:

1. You call $($).
2. jQuery adds the function argument ($) to an internal ready list.
3. Some time later, jQuery sees that the DOM is ready and thinks: “Let’s call all functions in the ready list”.
4. The only function in the ready list is $, so it calls $.
5. jQuery sees it should pass the $ function as the argument to those functions.
6. It calls $ with $ as argument.
7. The $ function sees a function as its argument, but because the DOM is ready, it calls the function directly (there is nothing to wait for).
8. The $ function is called with $ as the argument.
9. Everything happens again since step 7 applies.