jQuery Forum

1. var $tab = $(this).attr('data-tag');

gives you a string.

1. var $tab = $(this);

gives you a jQuery where you can later do 

1. $tab.find('.section');

JΛ̊KE

And, to answer your first question, there is no difference between:
var $tab and var tab

They are both JavaScript variables. A variable in JavaScript can begin with a letter, the $ sign, or an underscore character. However, when you're working with JQuery, a common convention is to begin the variable with the $ sign to indicate that the variable contains a JQuery object. This is a clue to you, and anyone else, that you can use JQuery methods on the variable.

In Jake's example, the last two pieces of code create variable called $tab, the variable holds a JQuery object, that he then applies the JQuery find() method to.

Dave

From:  http://api.jquery.com/attr/

Thanks guys. I think i'm slowly coming round to the jquery way :)