Javascript function declarations with a dollar sign
<p>This function declaration doesn't make sense to me. What does the $ sign do?</p>

<pre><code>function $(id) { return document.getElementById(id); }  
</code></pre>

<p>Also, this code is interfering with other Javascript code. If I comment it out, then the other Javascript code I'm trying to use works, but then I lose some other functionality.</p>

<p>Why might it be interfering with my other code.</p>
