jQuery All Selector “*”

What Is the All Selector?

The all selector — written as "*" — matches every element in the current search context. It is the CSS universal selector, available since jQuery 1.0. Use it for demos and diagnostics; scope it for safer real-world use.

$("*")                    → every element in the document
$("#panel").find("*")     → every descendant inside #panel
$("body *")               → every descendant of body (not body itself)

$("*").length             → count matches
prefer $(".item") / $("#id") in production

How to Use the All Selector

Pass "*" to $(), optionally narrow the root, then read .length or chain a method.

1. Decide the context — whole document, body, or a specific container.
2. Call $("*") or $("#id").find("*").
3. Use .length to count, or chain .css() / .each() on the set.
4. On large pages, avoid global $("*") — scope first or pick a specific selector.

Pseudocode

root = document  (or a container element)
matches = empty list

for each element in root tree:
    if element is an element node:
        add element to matches

return jQuery(matches)
// then: .length | .css(...) | .each(...)

Cheat Sheet

Keep these facts handy while using "*".

Live Preview

Compare how many elements match under different roots against a tiny sample DOM.

$("#demo").find("*")
matched: 4
tags: DIV, SPAN, P, BUTTON

/* scoped universal — official pattern */

jQuery Examples

Short, copy-ready snippets. Open a browser console with jQuery loaded, or use Try It Yourself for a live editor.

var elementCount = $("*").length;
console.log(elementCount + " elements found");

N elements found
(N varies by page size; includes html, head, body, …)

var tags = $("#test").find("*").map(function () {
  return this.tagName;
}).get().join(", ");

console.log(tags);
console.log("count:", $("#test").find("*").length);

DIV, SPAN, P, BUTTON
count: 4

var totalInPage = $("*").length;
var totalInPanel = $("#test").find("*").length;

console.log("Document:", totalInPage);
console.log("#test panel:", totalInPanel);

Document: 40+ (varies)
#test panel: 4

console.log("All nodes:", $("*").length);
console.log("Body descendants:", $("body *").length);

// body * does NOT include <body> itself — only children and below

All nodes: slightly higher (includes html, head, …)
Body descendants: lower by head-only elements

// Slow intent: collect everything, then filter
// $("*").filter("button")

// Fast intent: target the button directly
var label = $("#test button").text();
console.log(label);

Button

Performance Notes

Official guidance: the universal selector is extremely slow except when used by itself. Combining * with other selectors forces more work. Keep the context small, or skip * when a tag, class, or ID will do.

Key Takeaways