Temporary remove in jQuery -

<div class="stuff"> <span class="to_hide"> blah </span> <span id="permanent"> glue </span> </div> 

i want grab $(".stuff").text(), don't #tmp's text

this works fine $(".to_hide").remove()

but don't want removal action have effect on page itself. if remove or detach, need know elements have been (assume many .to_hide nodes)

how can use .text() while ignoring .to_hide

one easy way use clone

var text = $(".stuff").clone().find('.to_hide').remove().end().text();  console.log(text)

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.11.1/jquery.min.js"></script>  <div class="stuff">    <span class="to_hide"> blah </span>    <span id="permanent"> glue </span>  </div>

---

you can - if have complex systems , text nodes direct descendants of stuff may not work

var text = $(".stuff *").not('.to_hide').text();  console.log(text)

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.11.1/jquery.min.js"></script>  <div class="stuff">    <span class="to_hide"> blah </span>    <span id="permanent"> glue </span>  </div>