[jquery] Get element type with jQuery

Is it possible, using jQuery, to find out the type of an element with jQuery? For example, is the element a div, span, select, or input?

For example, if I am trying to load values into a drop-down list with jQuery, but the same script can generate code into a set of radio buttons, could I create something like:

$('.trigger').live('click', function () {
   var elementType = $(this).prev().attr(WHAT IS IT);
});

Given a drop-down list with a button next to it with the trigger class, my elementType variable should return select upon the button being pressed.

you can use .is():

  $( "ul" ).click(function( event ) {
      var target = $( event.target );
      if ( target.is( "li" ) ) {
         target.css( "background-color", "red" );
      }
  });

see source

use get(0).tagName. See this link

As Distdev alluded to, you still need to differentiate the input type. That is to say,

$(this).prev().prop('tagName');

will tell you input, but that doesn't differentiate between checkbox/text/radio. If it's an input, you can then use

$('#elementId').attr('type');

to tell you checkbox/text/radio, so you know what kind of control it is.

also you can use:

$("#elementId").get(0).tagName

Use Nodename over tagName :

nodeName contains all functionalities of tagName, plus a few more. Therefore nodeName is always the better choice.

see DOM Core

you should use tagName property and attr('type') for inputs