If you only have one element, then why does it require jQuery?
Is learning this one simple API call too hard for people?
document.getElementById()Is learning this one simple API call too hard for people?
document.getElementById()While it is possible to do these without jQuery, you could say that about any jQ plugin.
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Simply getting the width/height of an element in JavaScript is very hairy, especially when you want a cross browser solution.
I agree this jQuery thing a little redundant, but the simple fact it's the defacto, it fixes cross compatibility issues and it's easy to write stuff in.