What does $(string) mean?

[jmf314159]

I found the following statement in a JavaScript library module:

var elements = document.getElementsByClassName($('class-name').value);

Would someone please explain the $(string) referrence?

Thank you very much.

Jay

[jollymcfats]

You're probably looking at code that uses Prototype [prototype.conio.net], a javascript library. $() is just a function in the library, not special javascript syntax. In simple usage it works like this:

function $(domID) { 
 return document.getElementById(domID); 
}

_{(That's not the actual function definition, it's just a simplification.)}

[jmf314159]

Thank you very much!