Question

var first = $('#one, #two, #three');
var second = $('#six, #seven, #eight');

Now, I wanted to use $.merge() to merge the selections and hide them.

var merged = $.merge(first, second);
merged.hide(); // works, but alters "first"

Since I later have to reuse the first selection separately, I tried copy-merge.

var merged = $.merge( $.merge([], first), second );
merged.hide(); // =
// = Uncaught TypeError: Object [object HTMLDivElement], [object HTMLDivElement], [,...] has no method 'hide'

The error is obvious – elements have lost jQuery association.

1. Have I skipped a lesson about selection grouping / merging?
2. Is $(merged).hide(); the only solution?
3. Why did copy-merge drop the jQuery?

Answer 1

You don’t need the .merge(), use .add() instead:

var combined = first.add(second);
             //  ^----will not be affected
combined.hide();