map function and switch
<html> <head> <script type='text/javascript' src='js/jquery-1.3.2.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> $(document).ready( function() { var $mapped = $('li').map( function($key) { switch (true) { case ($(this).hasClass('my2')): { return $(this).text() + " <i>C</i>"; } case ($(this).hasClass('my3')): { return $(this).text() + " <i>B</i>"; } case ($(this).hasClass('my')): { return $(this).text() + " <i>my Harrison</i>"; } } } ); $('ul#ulId').hide(); $($mapped).each( function() { $('ul#tmpMapped').append("<li>" + this + "</li>\n"); } ); } ); </script> <style type='text/css'> ul { list-style: none; margin: 5px; padding: 0; } ul li { position: relative; background: #eff557; border: 1px solid black; padding: 3px; margin: 2px 0; } i { position: absolute; top: 3px; right: 3px; } </style> </head> <body> <ul id='ulId'> <li class='my3'>A</li> <li class='my2'>B</li> <li class='my3'>C</li> <li class='my2'>D</li> <li class='my'>E</li> </ul> <ul id='tmpMapped'> </ul> </body> </html>