What does jQuery simplify in JavaScript?

jQuery simplifies DOM manipulation and event handling in JavaScript by providing a more concise and easier-to-use syntax compared to the standard JavaScript methods. It allows developers to easily select and manipulate HTML elements, apply CSS styles, and handle events like clicks, mouse movements, or form submissions without needing to write extensive code.

This library abstracts away cross-browser inconsistencies, so developers can write code that works reliably across different web browsers without needing to deal with the intricacies of their differences. For instance, with jQuery, you can select an element and modify it with just a few lines of code, which enhances productivity and makes the code more readable.

The other options, while relevant to programming and JavaScript, do not specifically capture the primary advantages that jQuery offers. Object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm that jQuery does not specifically address. Error handling is a broad topic in JavaScript that jQuery does not focus on simplifying. Data storage and retrieval involve different web technologies and methods, such as AJAX or local storage, which jQuery supports through separate APIs but is not its primary function. Thus, the focus of jQuery on enhancing DOM manipulation and event handling sets it apart in this regard.