Introducing MooTools and MooFX

The MooTools library is composed of a series of components that provide different sets of functionality. When downloading the library you get the option of creating a custom build of the library that features just the tools you need or want. Some of the components within each module depend on other components to work; if you choose a component as part of your build, any other components that it relies upon are automatically selected as well. Being able to select only the components you require can help to cut down on the size of the library and means that you needn't keep track of which of your web applications uses which components; you can just download a new build tailored specifically to the needs of each of your projects.

There is only one component that is mandatory in all implementations and must be included in your build and in every page that makes use of the library - the Moo module. This is the core component of the library and deals with the implementations of the various classes used when designing with the library. It has no dependencies itself and can be used entirely stand-alone to just make your life as a developer a little easier when writing custom JavaScript.

The other component that makes up the core of the library is the utility.js module, which contains a general set of utility functions for dealing with objects and some useful window properties for browser detection purposes.

Next is the Native component, which extends some of the objects native to JavaScript. It is composed of array, element, event, function and string modules. This component builds on and extends exiting concepts fundamental to JavaScript. It allows you to perform advanced actions that would otherwise be impossible or take time saving shortcuts in your coding for things that are already possible but may be slightly cumbersome or long winded to do manually.