# .context

## context ( ) Returns: Element version added: 1.3

Description: The DOM node context originally passed to jQuery(); if none was passed then context will likely be the document.

The `.context` property was deprecated in jQuery 1.10 and is only maintained to the extent needed for supporting `.live()` in the jQuery Migrate plugin. It may be removed without notice in a future version.

The `.live()` method for binding event handlers uses this property to determine the root element to use for its event delegation needs.

The value of this property is typically equal to `document`, as this is the default context for jQuery objects if none is supplied. The context may differ if, for example, the object was created by searching within an `<iframe>` or XML document.

Note that the context property may only apply to the elements originally selected by `jQuery()`, as it is possible for the user to add elements to the collection via methods such as `.add()` and these may have a different context.

## Examples:

#### Example: Determine the exact context used.

    <!doctype html>
    <html lang="en">
    <head>
      <meta charset="utf-8">
      <title>css demo</title>

      <script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>

    Context: <ul></ul>

    <script>

    $( "ul" )
      .append( "<li>" + $( "ul" ).context + "</li>" )
      .append( "<li>" + $( "ul", document.body ).context.nodeName + "</li>" );

    </script>

    </body>
    </html>

#### Demo: