.text()

text ( )

.text()

Selects all elements of type text.

$(':text') allows us to select all <input type="text"> elements. As with other pseudo-class selectors (those that begin with a ":") it is recommended to precede it with a tag name or some other selector; otherwise, the universal selector ("*") is implied. In other words, the bare $(':text') is equivalent to $('*:text'), so $('input:text') should be used instead.

Note: As of jQuery 1.5.2, :text selects input elements that have no specified type attribute (in which case type="text" is implied).

This difference in behavior between $(':text') and $('[type=text]'), can be seen below:

$('<input>').is('[type=text]'); // false
$('<input>').is(':text'); // true

Example : Finds all text inputs.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
textarea { height:25px; }
</style>
<script src='http://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.js'></script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
    <input type="button" value="Input Button"/>
    <input type="checkbox" />

    <input type="file" />
    <input type="hidden" />
    <input type="image" />

    <input type="password" />
    <input type="radio" />
    <input type="reset" />

    <input type="submit" />
    <input type="text" />
    <select><option>Option</option></select>

    <textarea></textarea>
    <button>Button</button>
  </form>
  <div>
  </div>
<script>
var input = $("form input:text").css({background:"yellow", border:"3px red solid"});
    $("div").text("For this type jQuery found " + input.length + ".")
            .css("color", "red");
    $("form").submit(function () { return false; }); // so it won't submit
</script>
</body>
</html>