Animates the dimensional changes resulting from altering element contents. Taken from Discourse source.

show-html.js

// Animates the dimensional changes resulting from altering element contents
// Usage examples:
//    $("#myElement").showHtml("new HTML contents");
//    $("div").showHtml("new HTML contents", 400);
//    $(".className").showHtml("new HTML contents", 400,
//                    function() {/* on completion */});
(function($)
{
   $.fn.showHtml = function(html, speed, callback)
   {
      return this.each(function()
      {
         // The element to be modified
         var el = $(this);

         // Preserve the original values of width and height - they'll need
         // to be modified during the animation, but can be restored once
         // the animation has completed.
         var finish = {width: this.style.width, height: this.style.height};

         // The original width and height represented as pixel values.
         // These will only be the same as `finish` if this element had its
         // dimensions specified explicitly and in pixels. Of course, if that
         // was done then this entire routine is pointless, as the dimensions
         // won't change when the content is changed.
         var cur = {width: el.width()+'px', height: el.height()+'px'};

         // Modify the element's contents. Element will resize.
         el.html(html);

         // Capture the final dimensions of the element
         // (with initial style settings still in effect)
         var next = {width: el.width()+'px', height: el.height()+'px'};

         el .css(cur) // restore initial dimensions
            .animate(next, speed, function()  // animate to final dimensions
            {
               el.css(finish); // restore initial style settings
               if ( $.isFunction(callback) ) callback();
            });
      });
   };


})(jQuery);