If element contains certain text

Question

$('.test').css('background','red');

<div id="example">Some text</div>

How can I .addClass('test') if #example contains the word "text"?

Answer 1

just use :contains pseudoclass

$('#example:contains("text")').addClass('test');

this will add the class to #example if it contains 'text'

Answer 2

You can use $("#example") to get a jQuery wrapper for the element, then use text() to get its text, and use String#indexOf, e.g.:

var ex = $("#example");
if (ex.text().indexOf("text") !== -1) {
    ex.addClass("test");
}

You can also use :contains("text") in the selector as F. Calderan shows, although note that when you use non-standard pseudo-selectors like that, jQuery can't use the underlying browser's built-in stuff for finding elements, so it can be slower. The above will allow jQuery to use document.getElementById. There are only a few situations where the speed really matters, though.