Trigger change event
<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("select").change(function () { var str = ""; $("select option:selected").each(function () { str += $(this).text() + " "; }); $("div").text(str); }) .trigger('change'); }); </script> </head> <body> <body> <select name="garden" multiple="multiple"> <option>A</option> <option selected="selected">B</option> <option>C</option> <option selected="selected">D</option> <option>E</option> <option>F</option> </select> <div></div> </body> </html>