jQuery .andSelf() Method

What Is .andSelf()?

.andSelf() (jQuery 1.2–2.x) merges the previous stack set with the current set — same idea as .addBack() with no selector. It takes no arguments. Learn it to read legacy code; write .addBack() in new work.

// Legacy (jQuery 1.2–2.x only):
$("li.third-item").nextAll().andSelf()

// Modern (jQuery 1.8+ / 3.x):
$("li.third-item").nextAll().addBack()

// Same union — rename only
// andSelf() never had a selector filter
// addBack(selector) can filter the union

How to Use .andSelf() (Legacy)

Same chaining pattern as .addBack() — then rename for modern jQuery.

1. Select a starting set (e.g. $("li.third-item")).
2. Traverse with .nextAll(), .find(), etc. (pushes a new stack set).
3. Call .andSelf() to union previous + current (jQuery 1.2–2.x).
4. Migrate: change .andSelf() → .addBack().
5. On jQuery 3, never call .andSelf() — it throws.

Pseudocode

// Legacy:
call $(set).nextAll().andSelf()
  → same as .addBack() with no selector

// Migration:
replace ".andSelf()" with ".addBack()"
if you need a filter:
  use .addBack(selector)   // andSelf never supported this

// jQuery 3:
if .andSelf is undefined → TypeError

Cheat Sheet

Keep the rename and version cutoffs clear.

Live Preview

This demo loads jQuery 2.2.4 so .andSelf() still exists. Compare it with .addBack() and .end().

Ready — choose a call and click Run.

jQuery Examples

Legacy snippets use jQuery 2.2.4 so .andSelf() runs. Migration labs use jQuery 3.7.1 with .addBack().

$("li.third-item").nextAll().andSelf().append(" [kept]");

list item 1
list item 2
list item 3 [kept]
list item 4 [kept]
list item 5 [kept]

$("div.panel").find("p").andSelf().append(" [both]");

div.panel [both]
First Paragraph [both]
Second Paragraph [both]

// Before (breaks on jQuery 3):
// $("div.panel").find("p").andSelf().append(" [old]");

// After:
$("div.panel").find("p").addBack().append(" [new]");

// Need a filter? andSelf never could — use:
// $("div.panel").find("p").addBack(".panel");

div.panel [new]
paragraphs [new]
(Runs on jQuery 3 via .addBack())

var a = $("li.third-item").nextAll().andSelf().length; // 3
var b = $("li.third-item").nextAll().end().length;     // 1
$("#out").text("andSelf → " + a + "\\nend → " + b);

andSelf → 3
end → 1

var msg = typeof jQuery.fn.andSelf === "function"
  ? ".andSelf exists (jQuery 1.2–2.x)"
  : ".andSelf missing — use .addBack()";
$("#out").text(msg);

$("li.third-item").nextAll().addBack().append(" [ok]");

.andSelf missing — use .addBack()
items 3–5 marked [ok]

Performance Notes

There is no performance reason to keep .andSelf(). The cost matches .addBack(); the risk is a hard break on jQuery 3.

Key Takeaways