Checking if element exists with jQuery

Question

I have a block of code that looks like this:

//Account Number
        account = $(msg).find('[name=account_number]').val();

        if(account){
            $('#progressUpdates').append('<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-ok"></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;Found Account Number<br />');
        }else{
            $( '#progressUpdates').append('<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;Account Number not found<br />');
        }

The problem is, if the element that is being assigned to account doesn't exist, it throws an error. I tried doing :

if(account.length){}

But the issue isn't with the if statement, its assigning the variable. Is there a better solution to this?

Current code should work. `val()` returns `undefined` is the element it is called on does not exist. — techfoobar, Jan 31 '14 at 14:24
possible duplicate of [Is there an "exists" function for jQuery?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/31044/is-there-an-exists-function-for-jquery) — Ram, Jan 31 '14 at 14:25
What @techfoobar said, the posted code does not throw an error, and works just fine -> http://jsfiddle.net/D3LrF/ — adeneo, Jan 31 '14 at 14:31

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 31 '14 at 14:24

3

Don't call val()

account = $(msg).find('[name=account_number]');

and chack length -

if(account.length){

answered Jan 31 '14 at 14:24

Adil Shaikh

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I need the value of that element though. – SBB Jan 31 '14 at 14:26
@SBB Sure... you can call `val()` if that exist, right ? – Adil Shaikh Jan 31 '14 at 14:27
seems like more code than needed but i guess if thats the only way – SBB Jan 31 '14 at 14:28

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 31 '14 at 14:27

1

instead of this:

account = $(msg).find('[name=account_number]');

try with removing .val():

account = $(msg).find('[name=account_number]');

okay then you have to check for length in your if:

if(account.length){

or if you want the value out of it as suggested by Anton:

account.val()

answered Jan 31 '14 at 14:27

Jai

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That would tell me that it found the element but then i need the value of it as well. – SBB Jan 31 '14 at 14:28

Checking if element exists with jQuery

2 Answers2