How to get reference to jQuery selector for content just added via manipulation method?

Question

If content is added to the DOM using, e.g.,

$("ul").append("<li>test</li>");

how does one get a reference the content just added w/o having to select the newly added content?

Assigning the return value from the append() method is the jQuery object.

var newContent=$("ul").append("<li>test</li>");

One could do

var newContent=$("ul li:last");

but is there a way to get it more directly?

Thanks

Answer 1

You can create it in its own line ala:

var newLi = $('<li>test</li>');
$('ul').append(newLi);

//Continue using newLi and it will affect the appended element

Answer 2

Use .appendTo().