jQuery :parent Selector

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The jQuery :parent selector is used to select all elements that are the parent of another element, including text nodes.

Syntax:

$(":parent")

Example 1: In this example, we will select all the parent elements of the <li> by using jQuery :parent Selector.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  
<head>
    <title>
        jQuery :parent() Selector
    </title>
    <script src=
"https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js">
    </script>
  
    <script>
        $(document).ready(function () {
            $("li:parent").css(
                "background-color", "green");
        });
    </script>
</head>
  
<body>
    <center>
        <h1 id="geeks1">
            GeeksForGeeks</h1>
        <h2 id="geeks2">
            jQuery :parent() Selector
        </h2>
        <div>
            <li>Geek1</li>
            <li></li>
            <li>Geek3</li>
            <li>Geek4</li>
            <li></li>
            <li>Geek6</li>
        </div>
    </center>
</body>
  
</html>

Output:

Example 2: In this example, we will add a border to the parent elements of <li> with the help of click function.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  
<head>
    <title>
        jQuery :parent() Selector
    </title>
    <script src=
"https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js">
    </script>
  
    <script>
        $(document).ready(function () {
            $("button").click(function () {
                $("li:parent").css(
                    "border", "2px solid red");
            });
        });
    </script>
</head>
  
<body>
    <center>
        <h1 id="geeks1">
            GeeksForGeeks</h1>
        <h2 id="geeks2">
            jQuery :parent() Selector
        </h2>
        <div>
            <li>Geek1</li>
            <li></li>
            <li>Geek3</li>
            <li>Geek4</li>
            <li></li>
            <li>Geek6</li>
            <br>
            <button>Add Border</button>
        </div>
    </center>
</body>
  
</html>