How to Check jQuery Version in Console

Checking the version of jQuery running on any webpage is a quick and straightforward task using your browser's developer tools. This article outlines the exact commands you need to execute in the console to retrieve the active jQuery version, how to handle standard shorthand aliases, and how to troubleshoot scenarios where jQuery might not be immediately accessible.

Step 1: Open the Browser Console

First, navigate to the webpage you want to inspect and open the developer tools:

  • Windows / Linux: Press F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I
  • macOS: Press Cmd + Option + I

Once the developer tools open, click on the Console tab.

Step 2: Run the Version Command

To check the loaded jQuery version, type either of the following standard commands and press Enter:

$.fn.jquery

or

jQuery.fn.jquery

Both commands will return a string indicating the exact version number, such as "3.6.0" or "1.12.4".

Alternative Commands

You can also retrieve the version by calling an empty jQuery object:

$().jquery

This functions identically to $.fn.jquery because $.fn is an alias for the jQuery prototype (jQuery.prototype).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Uncaught ReferenceError: $ is not defined
    This error indicates that jQuery is either not loaded on the page or the $ alias has been disabled using jQuery.noConflict(). In this scenario, try running jQuery.fn.jquery. If both fail, jQuery is not present on the document.

  • Incorrect Version Returned
    If multiple scripts load conflicting libraries, the $ variable may be overwritten by another framework like Prototype or MooTools. Always use jQuery.fn.jquery to ensure you are referencing the jQuery object specifically.

  • Sites Using iframes
    If the application is embedded within an <iframe>, make sure to use the console's execution context dropdown (often labeled "top") to switch to the specific frame running jQuery before executing the command.