1. I need to figure out how to use twitter bootstrap buttons with jquery. Specifically, I need to figure out how to use the submit button.

Bootstrap can be used together with jQuery, no additional steps required. Actually even bootstrap itself use jQuery in their framework.

You can still use jQuery like usual, and bootstrap like usual. Both will work, without any conflicts.

2. How to send data using ajax?

It can be done by using one of jQuery AJAX function, for example $.ajax.

Just add new event, click, on your button #newThread. Write the AJAX inside the event handler. Example based on your code can be seen in below.

HTML

<form name = reply id=replyForm action=sqlinserter.php method = POST>

    <button id = newThread class=btn btn-primary type=submit>Submit</button>

</form>

JS

$(function() {

    $('#newThread').on('click', function (e) {

        e.preventDefault(); // disable the default form submit event



        var $form = $('#replyForm');



        $.ajax({

            url: $form.attr(action),

            type: $form.attr(method),

            data: $form.serialize(),

            success: function (response) {

                alert('response received');

                // ajax success callback

            },

            error: function (response) {

                alert('ajax failed');

                // ajax error callback

            },

        });

    });

});