Get by attribute
<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("div[id]").one("click", function(){ var idString = $(this).text() + " = " + $(this).attr("id"); $(this).text(idString); }); }); </script> </head> <body> Click to see. <div>div</div> <div id="hey">div</div> </body> </html>