<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("button[disabled]").next(".selected").text("data"); }); </script> <style> .y { background:yellow; } </style> </head> <body> <body> <div><button disabled="disabled">First</button> - <span class="selected"></span></div> </body> </html>