title: In Javascript/JQuery what is $. for?
body: <p>I'm writing a utility file and I've gotten some examples from online and this a form of writing the utility I've come across:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$.util = $.extend($.util || {}, {
  
      //functions here...
  
  });
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and so I think I understand what it's doing. It allows me to call <code>$.util.function()</code> somewhere else, however when I remove the <code>.</code> in front of the <code>$</code> the code breaks. What does this notation mean? What's the difference between <code>$.</code> and <code>$</code>?</p>