jQuery to work in WordPress

As I understand wordpress already loads a jquery library via a googles website by default in the functions.php file. So I know not to load another jquery library as it can result in problems

I know that prototype came before jquery so using "$" will run you into errors. Instead we should use jQuery(). And in no conflict mode we can use the shorthand $j.

So all that stuff is obvious. So what do I do when the library is loading properly (i did a view source and it loads fine), the .js file is using "jQuery()", and I am not trying to call another jquery library?

I've been going nuts for the past week trying to figure out how to get jQuery to work in WordPress. Has anyone figured it out?

WordPress doesn't use a Google CDN version of jQuery; rather, it bundles a version of jQuery (currently, version 1.6.1) in core.

To use jQuery on the front end (i.e. in your Theme), you need to add something like the following to functions.php:

function mytheme_enqueue_scripts() {
if ( ! is_admin() ) {
wp_enqueue_script( 'jquery' );
}
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'mytheme_enqueue_scripts' );

If you can provide a bit more specific information about what you're trying to do, we can provide more specific assistance.