:eq() Selector?:eq(index) (since jQuery 1.0) selects the single element at a zero-based index in the matched set. Negative indices (from the end) are supported since 1.8.
$("td:eq(2)"); // third cell (index 2)
$("li:eq(0)"); // first list item
$("li:eq(-2)"); // second-to-last (since 1.8)
// Preferred today (jQuery 3.4+):
$("td").eq(2); // same as :eq(2)| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Exactly one index | $("el").eq(n) · legacy $("el:eq(n)") |
Elements before index n | :lt(n) · .slice(0, n) |
Elements after index n | :gt(n) · .slice(n + 1) |
| Even / odd positions | :even / :odd |
| CSS nth child (1-based) | :nth-child() |
:eq()Build a matched set first, then pick one item by index — or migrate to .eq().
$("td"), $("li"), …).:eq(index) · Modern: call .eq(index)..each() and .eq(1) inside.| Piece | Required? | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Preceding selector | Yes | Builds the set that :eq / .eq filters |
index | Yes | Zero-based position in that set |
| Negative index | No | Since 1.8 — count from the end |
| Return value | — | jQuery set with 0 or 1 element |
set = $(precedingSelector) // indices 0 … length-1
call set.filter(":eq(index)")
// or set.eq(index)
if index is negative:
index = set.length + index // e.g. -1 → last
if 0 <= index < set.length:
return set[index] as a jQuery object
else:
return empty jQuery setKeep these facts handy while picking by index.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Syntax | $("sel:eq(index)") |
| Since | 1.0 · negative index since 1.8 |
| Deprecated | jQuery 3.4 — prefer .eq() |
| Migration | :eq(n) → .eq(n) |
| Indexing | 0-based (like JS arrays) |
| Matches | At most one element |
| vs :nth-child | Set position (0-based) vs parent child (1-based CSS) |
| Out of range | Empty set — length 0 |
Highlight one table cell with :eq() or the modern .eq() equivalent.
Short, copy-ready snippets. Open DevTools, or use Try It Yourself for a live editor.
td:eq(2)From the jQuery docs: pick the third table cell.
var text = $("td:eq(2)").text();
$("#out").text("Matched: " + text + " (index 2)");td cells get indices 0–8..eq(2)Same cell as :eq(2) — the recommended jQuery 3.4+ replacement.
$("#out").text(
":eq(2) → " + $("td:eq(2)").text() + "\n" +
".eq(2) → " + $("td").eq(2).text()
);:eq(n) ↔ .eq(n).$("td") can use querySelectorAll..eq(2) picks index 2 afterward.:eq(-2)Count from the end (since 1.8) to pick the second-to-last item.
$("#out").text(
"eq(-2) → " + $("li:eq(-2)").text() + "\n" +
".eq(-2) → " + $("li").eq(-2).text()
);:eq.:eq() vs :nth-child()One set index versus every second child of its parent.
$("#out").text(
":eq(1) → " + $("ul.nav li:eq(1)").text() + "\n" +
":nth-child(2) → " + $("ul.nav li:nth-child(2)").map(function () {
return $(this).text();
}).get().join(" | ")
);li set — one match.li that is child #2 of its ul.:eq is 0-based; :nth-child is 1-based CSS.Official pattern: loop lists, then pick li:eq(1) inside each.
var lines = [];
$("ul.nav").each(function () {
lines.push($(this).find("li").eq(1).text());
});
$("#out").text(lines.join("\n"));ul.nav.li inside that list.$("li:eq(1)") would only hit the second item globally.Check these before relying on :eq() in real pages.
:eq(1) is the second elementZero-based like JS arrays. The first match is :eq(0), not :eq(1).
:nth-childSet position vs parent child; 0-based vs 1-based. They often pick different elements.
Still works today, but new code should use $("sel").eq(n).
Need “second in each list”? Loop with .each() and .eq(1) inside each parent.
:eq() has been part of jQuery since 1.0 (negative indices since 1.8). It still works, but is deprecated since jQuery 3.4 — prefer .eq() for new code.
Works across jQuery 1.x–3.x where loaded, but avoid in new projects. Migrate to $("sel").eq(n) for better performance and future compatibility.
Bottom line: Fine for reading older tutorials. For production on jQuery 3.4+, use .eq() instead of :eq().
| Approach | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
$("css").eq(n) | Best | Modern browsers + jQuery 3.4+ |
$("el:eq(n)") | Slower | Legacy code only — no querySelectorAll |
| Huge lists filtered often | Can add up | Cache the set; call .eq() once |
Because :eq() is a jQuery extension, the engine cannot hand the whole query to the browser. Select with CSS, then .eq(), for the fastest path.
:eq(n) → .eq(n) (deprecated 3.4).:nth-child (1-based).:eq(-2) since 1.8 · or .eq(-2) for the same.One line: :eq(n) picks one element at index n — prefer .eq(n) in modern jQuery.
Select every element before a zero-based index in the matched set.
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