Difference between $(this) and this in jquery

Question

What is the fundamental difference between using $(this) vs this

$(\'.viewComments\').click(function(ev){
    //returns the desired value
    alert(this.getA         


        

Answer 1

in jQuery the $() notation is a shorthand for the jQuery selector, so if you say $(this) you are asking jQuery to re-select your object. Then you have the usual jQuery functions available.
Then, this is the object selected by the outer jQuery call (JavaScript).