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jQuery * Selector

Last Updated: April 20, 2019 by Chaitanya Singh | Filed Under: jQuery

In the previous tutorial, we discussed what are jQuery Selectors. In this guide, we will discuss the jQuery * Selector, which is used to select all the elements of a Document Object Model (DOM). It includes all the elements such as html, head, body etc.

jQuery * Selector Syntax

To select all the elements of html page including html, head, body elements.

$("*")

To select all the child elements of a specified element

$("Element_name *")

jQuery * Selector Example

In the following example we are selecting all the elements of this html page using $(*) selector and when the Click Me! button is clicked we are changing the background colour to green for all the selected elements.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.4.0/jquery.min.js">
</script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
  $("button").click(function(){
    $("*").css("background-color", "green");
  });
});
</script>
</head>
<body>

<h2>jQuery * selector example</h2>

<p>This example is published on beginnersbook.com</p>
<p>This is another paragraph. It contains some plain text</p>

<button>Click Me!</button>

</body>
</html>

Output:
Before the button is clicked: The following is the output of the above code in the browser, the button Click Me! is not yet clicked.
jQuery * Selector

After the button is clicked: The following screenshot is the output screen in the browser after the button is clicked.
jQuery * Selector output

jQuery * Selector to select all the child elements of a webpage

Here we will use the * selector to select all the child elements of a specified element. In the following example we have used the * selector like this: $(“div *”) which would select all the child elements of div elements. There are two child elements of div element in the following example so the background colour of these two paras would be changed on the button click.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.4.0/jquery.min.js">
</script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
  $("button").click(function(){
    $("div *").css("background-color", "green");
  });
});
</script>
</head>
<body>

<h2>jQuery selector example to select all child elements</h2>
<div>
<p>This example is published on beginnersbook.com</p>
<p>This is another paragraph. It contains some plain text</p>
</div>
<button>Click Me!</button>

</body>
</html>

Output:
Before the button is clicked:
jQuery Selectors example: * selector example
After the button is clicked:
jQuery Selectors example: selecting all child elements example

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About the Author

I have 15 years of experience in the IT industry, working with renowned multinational corporations. Additionally, I have dedicated over a decade to teaching, allowing me to refine my skills in delivering information in a simple and easily understandable manner.

– Chaitanya

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