Create jquery item from string without actually inserting into DOM?

Question

Is it possible to create a jquery object that I can perform jquery functions on from just a string representation?

I.e.

var item = '<div>hello</div>';
???
alert(item.html());

I think I could do it by adding it to the DOM using append(), then reselecting it, but i dont really want to do that as it seems horribly ineffcient.

EDIT: Thanks for all the replies

Answer 1

Try this:

var item = '<div>hello</div>';
alert($(item).html());

However the html() function displays the inner html of the object created.

Answer 2

var item = $.create('<div>hello</div>');

try that?

Answer 3

Try:

var item = $('<div>');
item.text('hello');

alert(item.text);

item is not a part of the DOM, you can manipuate it the way you like and append it where you like when you feel like it.