How can I detect if a selector returns null

0 votes

What is the best way to detect if a jQuery-selector returns an empty object. If you do:

alert($('#notAnElement'));

you get [object Object], so the way I do it now is:

alert($('#notAnElement').get(0));

which will write "undefined", and so you can do a check for that. But it seems very bad. What other way is there?

Oct 5, 2020 in JQuery by kartik
• 37,520 points
3,623 views

1 answer to this question.

0 votes

Hello @kartik,

My favourite is to extend jQuery with this tiny convenience:

$.fn.exists = function () {
    return this.length !== 0;
}

Used like:

$("#notAnElement").exists();

More explicit than using length.

Hope it helps!!
Thank you!!

answered Oct 5, 2020 by Niroj
• 82,840 points

Related Questions In JQuery

0 votes
1 answer

How can I convert a DOM element to a jQuery element?

Hello, Use this: var elm = document.createElement("div"); var jelm = ...READ MORE

answered Nov 25, 2020 in JQuery by Niroj
• 82,840 points
2,506 views
0 votes
1 answer

How can selector expression to not select elements with a specific class?

Hello @kartik, You need the :not() selector: $('div[cla ...READ MORE

answered Nov 26, 2020 in JQuery by Niroj
• 82,840 points
766 views
0 votes
1 answer

How can I refresh a page with jQuery?

Use the JavaScript location. reload() Method You can simply ...READ MORE

answered Jun 10, 2022 in JQuery by gaurav
• 23,260 points
995 views
0 votes
1 answer

How can I create a "Please Wait, Loading..." animation using jQuery?

Use the ajaxStart() and ajaxStop() Method While working ...READ MORE

answered Jun 7, 2022 in JQuery by Edureka
• 13,690 points
1,794 views
+1 vote
1 answer

How to make anchor tag with routing using Laravel?

Hey @kartik, First you have to go to ...READ MORE

answered Mar 18, 2020 in Laravel by Niroj
• 82,840 points
23,045 views
0 votes
1 answer

What is redirection in Laravel?

Named route is used to give specific ...READ MORE

answered Mar 18, 2020 in Laravel by Niroj
• 82,840 points
3,010 views
0 votes
1 answer

How to install Laravel via composer?

Hello, This is simple you just need to ...READ MORE

answered Mar 23, 2020 in Laravel by Niroj
• 82,840 points
2,932 views
+1 vote
1 answer

What are named routes in Laravel and How can specify route names for controller actions?

Hey @kartik, Named routing is another amazing feature of ...READ MORE

answered Mar 23, 2020 in Laravel by Niroj
• 82,840 points
44,838 views
0 votes
1 answer

How can I refresh a page with jQuery?

Hello @kartik, Use location.reload(): $('#something').click(function() { location.reload(); }); The reload() function ...READ MORE

answered Sep 10, 2020 in JQuery by Niroj
• 82,840 points
2,179 views
0 votes
1 answer

How can I determine the direction of a jQuery scroll event?

Hello @kartik, Check current scrollTop vs previous scrollTop var lastScrollTop = 0; $(window).scroll(function(event){ ...READ MORE

answered Nov 24, 2020 in JQuery by Niroj
• 82,840 points
877 views
webinar REGISTER FOR FREE WEBINAR X
REGISTER NOW
webinar_success Thank you for registering Join Edureka Meetup community for 100+ Free Webinars each month JOIN MEETUP GROUP