jQuery doesn't find elements or its attributes

Question

I've got this:

<h1 id="test" class="test">

and in a script part this:

alert($('#test').id) alert($('.test').id)

jQuery is definitely loaded. But I get undefined in the alert box - both times. If I use the regular getElementById, it works and shows test.

What the heck is wrong (with me)

jQuery's factory function doesn't return DOM nodes, it returns a jQuery wrapper that contains a list of DOM nodes. — zzzzBov
– zzzzBov, Commented Jul 16, 2012 at 18:23

Ram · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-16 18:20:32Z

4

change:

alert($('#test').id)

to:

alert($('#test').attr('id'))

or:

alert($('#test')[0].id)

for jQuery objects you should use attr() method.

answered Jul 16, 2012 at 18:20

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2 Comments

But: Is that readonly? If I assign a value like $(".test").attr("class") = "try" it stops execution. See jsfiddle.net/tF6bd/1

@EasierSaidThanDone for changing an attribute's value you should code $(".test").attr("class", "try")

Ricardo Lohmann · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-16 18:38:18Z

You can use attr or prop, the difference is that attr return undefined if the attribute haven't been set.

Examples:
alert($('test').attr('id'));
alert($('test').prop('id'));

Demos:

References: