jQuery .wrapAll(): Put Selected Elements in One Wrapper
.wrapAll() collects every matched element inside one shared HTML structure. Separated elements can move together, changing their original positions and layout.
Syntax and behavior
$(".item").wrapAll("<div class='group'></div>");
The wrapper is created before the first selected element, and the remaining selected elements move into it. Unselected siblings between them are not included. .wrap() creates a parent for each element; .wrapAll() creates one parent for the whole selection. In jQuery 3.0 and later, a wrapper callback runs once and returns the wrapper structure. The method returns the original selection.
The official jQuery .wrapAll() documentation describes additional call signatures and argument types.
Complete runnable example
Save the following code as a UTF-8 example.html file and open it in a browser. It loads the full jQuery 4.0.0 build from an external URL, so an internet connection is required. The $(function () { ... }) callback waits for the document to be ready before running the example.
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>jQuery wrapAll example</title>
<style>
body { margin: 24px; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; }
.marked { background: #fff0b3; border: 2px solid #835b00; }
.active { color: #a00000; font-weight: bold; }
button, input, select { font: inherit; }
#output { white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
</style>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-4.0.0.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="container">
<p class="item">First paragraph</p>
<p id="note">Middle note</p>
<p class="item">Second paragraph</p>
</div>
<p id="output" aria-live="polite"></p>
<script>
$(function () {
$(".item").wrapAll("<div class='group marked'></div>");
$("#output").text("Inside group: " + $(".group").children().map(function () { return $(this).text(); }).get().join(" / ") +
" | Note parent: " + $("#note").parent().attr("id"));
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
Expected result
One border surrounds First paragraph and Second paragraph. Middle note remains outside the group and now appears after the whole group. The output is Inside group: First paragraph / Second paragraph | Note parent: container.
Important details and troubleshooting
- Elements from different parents can be collected into one location. Scope the selection by parent or use .wrap() if the original layout and reading order must remain intact.
- Use one innermost element in a nested wrapper so the insertion location is unambiguous.
- This moves existing elements rather than making copies. If events are delegated from an original ancestor, check whether the moved elements still bubble events to that ancestor.
- Removing the wrapper with .unwrap() does not restore separated elements to their original positions. Record those positions before moving them if restoration is required.
Compare the behavior with .wrap() with separate wrappers, .unwrap() and parent removal.
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jQuery :contains(): Match Elements by Text Content
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jQuery .prepend(): Insert Content as the First Child
Add content at the beginning of an element and understand how existing nodes and multiple destinations affect the result.
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Add one or more classes while preserving existing names, generate classes with a callback, and check why styling may not change.
jQuery .add(): Combine Element Selections
Combine selections without changing the original collection, and distinguish selecting elements from inserting them into the document.
jQuery .append(): Insert Content as the Last Child
Add content at the end of an element, compare insertion with moving or cloning nodes, and handle user input as plain text.
jQuery .wrap(): Wrap Each Element Separately
Give each selected element its own wrapper, check the returned selection, and avoid duplicate IDs or repeated nesting.
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Compare deleting an attribute with setting an empty value, and handle input values, current properties, and ARIA attributes correctly.
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