these above are proprietary(only for jquery) or are common js adv coding writting

these above are proprietary(only for jquery) or are common js adv coding writting

I have the book PRO JAVASCRIPT TECHNIQUES Well some code syntax do NOT appear in my knowledge(from other beginning js textbooks), what means:
A)
ajax({
url:"./?feed=rss&pagede="+(++curPage);  // is it param value to the ajax function?
date:...
onSucess:...
B)
//wiki.js
$s.split("&");   // here when "$" used in js?
$("#content").hide();
$.ajax({...
$.param(p),...
$s=tmp[0];
 
these above are proprietary(only for jquery) or are common js adv coding writting?