How to get the text before $el with jQuery?

Question

<cite>
    text here...
    <a id="target_element"></a>
</cite>

How to get the text before #target_element?

Answer 1

This isn't the prettiest solution but it will work in that specific case:

$('#target_element').parent().text();

It is best to put that text in another element, like a span. Otherwise, that text can get messed up really easily. If it was in a span, you could do something like:

$('#target_element').prev().text();

That way you will run into less errors.

---

EDIT

I found another way:

var elementClone = $('#target_element').clone();
elementClone.children().remove();
elementClone.text();

Answer 2

at first time make a place for replacement:

<div id="target"></div>
<a id="target_element"></a>

Answer 3

$("#target_element").parent().contents().filter(function(){ 
       return this.nodeType == 3; 
}).text();

demo