gistfile1.js

// css() upgrade for a few shorthand values
// paul irish. MIT license.

// by default you can't do $(elem).css('margin'), but instead $(elem).css('marginTop') and so on.
// this monkeypatch allows lets you retrieve all four values in shorthand style:
//   e.g. $(this).css('padding')

(function($){

 var css = $.fn.css, methods = {'padding':1,'margin':1}, dirs = 'Top Right Bottom Left'.split(' ');

 $.fn.css = function(prop,val){
    var jq = this;
    if ( val || !(prop in methods)) return css.apply(jq,arguments);
    return $.map(dirs, function(k){  return css.call(jq,prop+k) }).join(' ');
 }

})(jQuery);