jQuery allows for impressive animations and interactions that are easily created and utilized in your WordPress blog. If used wisely, these plugins can enhance your blog by making it far easier for your readership to read your words of genius, and participate in your blog.

This articles details some of the better plugins that utilize jQuery.

Infinite Scroll Plugin. This baby adds related pages on to the one that your reader is reading. The content it grabs is predetermined by you by using the .load() method which is an CSS selector of the HTML you have chosen. This is also knows as autopagerize, paginate, and endless pages.

jQuery Lightbox Plugin. This plugin can be used to overlay images on a page. It is compatible with WordPress 2.2 and up, and fully compatible with K2. It is well worth considering if you are using a lot of pictures on your blog.

WordPress Post Information Plugin. This simple plugin allows you to view post meta information by using the toggle function in JavaScript. It is an on demand feature.

Snazzy Archives Plugin. Snazzy is a fantastic word and should never be underestimated by man or beast. The same can be said of this plugin which allows you to select different ways to display your posts, and add special effects to make it all snazzy. Displaying videos with comments for example is just one of the many options available with this plugin

J Post Slider Plugin. This plugin allows you to create a slider navigation element, that is used for showing your posts by sliding them across the screen. The motion is constant, until a user holds the mouse over a post, and selects it by clicking it. Post descriptions also appear.

WP Imagefit Plugin. This plugin uses JavaScript to resize images rather than CSS or HTML to do the job. If you enjoy your JavaScript, you’ll enjoy Wp Imagefit.

Wp Wall Plugin. This is quite a clever little addition to your blog, as it adds a widget in the sidebar which displays comments. It has the full range of moderation options as normal comments, as all the hard work is done back-office via WordPress.

jQuery Comment Preview Plugin. This plugin provides live uploading of comments without the page having to refresh. It could be a good one if your blog is powered by feisty debates.

Insights Plugin. This plugin is extremely useful if you use pictures in your posts. Powered by Ajax, it creates an interface which allows you to search the following sites individually to find images in real time. Flickr, Youtube, Wikipedia, Search Google, Insert a Google Map and more…

µAudio Plugin. This is an mp3 player powered by Flash. To save load time, the links are unmodified until they are clicked, at which a point the player fades in and out depending on whether it is selected. Clever really.

Simple Modal Contact Form Plugin. This Ajax powered plugin, basically provides a good way for a reader to complete a form. It has an option whereby the reader can request a copy. It utilizes the jQuery JavaScript library and the SimpleModal jQuery plugin to work.

Events Calendar Plugin. This plugin is a more enhanced version of the basic calendar provided by WordPress. It allows you to keep track of events, hence the name.

µMint Plugin. This allows you to integrate statistics of Shaun Inman’s Mint statistic package into WordPress. What you do with them after that is completely up to you.

As you can see, there are a lot of useful plugins here to help you create a better blog for your readers. As with all plugins, it is advisable to chose them with care, and be clear about its role in your blog.

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