:selected Selector

selected ( ) version added: 1.0

Description: Selects all elements that are selected.

The :selected selector works for <option> elements. It does not work for checkboxes or radio inputs; use :checked for them.

Examples:

Example: Attaches a change event to the select that gets the text for each selected option and writes them in the div. It then triggers the event for the initial text draw. 

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

  <style>

  div {
    color: red;
  }

  </style>

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

<select name="garden" multiple="multiple">
  <option>Flowers</option>
  <option selected="selected">Shrubs</option>
  <option>Trees</option>
  <option selected="selected">Bushes</option>
  <option>Grass</option>
  <option>Dirt</option>
</select>
<div></div>

<script>

$( "select" )
  .change(function() {
    var str = "";
    $( "select option:selected" ).each(function() {
      str += $( this ).text() + " ";
    });
    $( "div" ).text( str );
  })
  .trigger( "change" );

</script>

  
</body>
</html>

Demo: