// Define appendVal by extending JQuery_x000D_
$.fn.appendVal = function( TextToAppend ) {_x000D_
return $(this).val(_x000D_
$(this).val() + TextToAppend_x000D_
);_x000D_
};_x000D_
//______________________________________________x000D_
_x000D_
// And that's how to use it:_x000D_
$('#SomeID')_x000D_
.appendVal( 'This text was just added' )
_x000D_
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>_x000D_
<form>_x000D_
<textarea _x000D_
id = "SomeID"_x000D_
value = "ValueText"_x000D_
type = "text"_x000D_
>Current NodeText_x000D_
</textarea>_x000D_
</form>
_x000D_
Well when creating this example I somehow got a little confused. "ValueText" vs >Current NodeText< Isn't .val()
supposed to run on the data of the value attribute? Anyway I and you me may clear up this sooner or later.
However the point for now is:
When working with form data use .val().
When dealing with the mostly read only data in between the tag use .text() or .append() to append text.