How to get text before $ el using jQuery?

Question

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

How to get the text up #target_element?

Answer 1

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

demo

Answer 2

This is not a pleasant solution, but it will work in this particular case:

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

It is best to put this text in another element, such as a span. Otherwise, this text can be easily confused. If this were in between, you could do something like:

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

Thus, you will encounter fewer errors.

---

EDIT

I found in another way :

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

Answer 3

for the first time take a place for a replacement:

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