title: what is this.element in a jquery function?
body: <p>I was reading an excellent explanation of the jQuery UI combobox by Jörn Zaefferer (<a href="http://www.learningjquery.com/2010/06/a-jquery-ui-combobox-under-the-hood" rel="noreferrer">here's the link</a>).</p>
  
  <p>The fourth line of code reads <code>var select = this.element.hide()</code></p>
  
  <p>Jörn says: </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The var select references the select element on which the combobox gets applied. To replace the select with the text input, the select is hidden.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I am learning jQuery now, and I don't recall seeing <strong>this.element</strong> before. How is it different that just <strong>this</strong>?</p>