Question

We have two containers next to each other, with containers inside them.

<ul class="containers">
    <li>Matt</li>
    <li>John</li>
    <li>Mark</li>
</ul>
<ul class="containers">
    <li>Roger</li>
    <li>Bill</li>
    <li>Lara</li>
    <li>Miriam</li>
    <li>Dylan</li>
    <li>Harry</li>
</ul>

What is the most optimized method, for understanding and retrieving the “container”, with least children inside it?

Answer 1

var $el = $('ul.containers:first');

$('ul.containers').each(function(){
  if( $(this).children().length < $(this).next('ul.containers').children().length ){
    $el = $(this);
  }
});

console.log( $el ); //$el is now the parent with the least children.

or a slightly shorter version with the single line if:

var $el = $('ul.containers:first');

$('ul.containers').each(function(){
  $el = $(this).children().length < $(this).next('ul.containers').children().length ? $(this) : $el ;
});

console.log( $el ); //$el is now the parent with the least children.