jQuery .last() Method

What Is .last()?

.last() reduces the current matched set to the final element and returns a new jQuery object. No arguments. Available since jQuery 1.4.

$("li").last()        → final list item
$("ul li").last()     → last li in any ul (document order)

set:  [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
                         ↑
                      .last()

.last()   ===  .eq(-1)
.first()  ===  .eq(0)

How to Use .last()

Build a set, then keep only the element at the final index.

1. Select the elements you care about (li, .card, and so on).
2. Call .last() — no arguments.
3. Work with the one-element (or empty) result.
4. Chain after .find() / .filter() when the set is built in steps.

Pseudocode

set = current jQuery collection

if set.length == 0:
    return empty jQuery

return jQuery(set[set.length - 1])   // new one-element set

Cheat Sheet

Keep these facts handy while taking the last match.

Live Preview

Compare .last(), .eq(-1), and .first() on a short list.

$("li").last()
matched: 1
text: This is another note about it.

/* final index in the set */

jQuery Examples

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

var $last = $("ul li").last();
console.log($last.length);
console.log($last.text().trim());

// Official: $( "ul li" ).last().addClass( "highlight" );

1
This is another note about it.

var $a = $("li").last();
var $b = $("li").eq(-1);

console.log($a.text().trim());
console.log($b.text().trim());
console.log("same node:", $a[0] === $b[0]);

list item 5
list item 5
same node: true

console.log("first:", $("li").first().text().trim());
console.log("last:", $("li").last().text().trim());
console.log("total:", $("li").length);

first: list item 1
last: list item 5
total: 5

var $hit = $("#menu").find("li").last();
console.log($hit.text().trim());
console.log("from find count:", $("#menu").find("li").length);

Contact
from find count: 3

var $hit = $(".missing").last();
console.log("length:", $hit.length);
console.log("text:", JSON.stringify($hit.text()));

length: 0
text: ""

Performance Notes

.last() itself is cheap. Cost comes from building a large set first — scope with an id or class, then call .last().

Key Takeaways