How to check if an element exists in jQuery

In jQuery, you can use the .length property to check if an element exists. if the element exists, the length property will return the total number of the matched elements.

For example,

if($('#div1').length){
	alert("Div1 exists");
}else{
	alert("Div1 does not exists");
}

To check if an element which has an id of “div1″ exists.

jQuery length example

<html>
<head>
 
<script type="text/javascript" src="jquery-1.3.2.min.js"></script>
 
</head>
 
<body>
 
<h1>jQuery check if an element exists</h1>
 
<script type="text/javascript">
 
  $(document).ready(function(){
 
    $("#buttonDiv1").click(function () {
 
	if($('#div1').length){
		alert("Div1 exists");
	}else{
		alert("Div1 does not exists");
	}
 
    });
 
    $("#buttonDiv2").click(function () {
 
	if($('#div2').length){
		alert("Div2 exists");
	}else{
		alert("Div2 does not exists");
	}
 
    });
 
  });
</script>
</head><body>
 
<div id="div1">
	<b>This is DIV element which has an ide of "div1"</b>
</div>
 
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
 
<input type='button' value='div1 exists?' id='buttonDiv1'>
<input type='button' value='div2 exists?' id='buttonDiv2'>
 
</body>
</html>