# jQuery closest() Method
[ jQuery Traversing Methods](#)
## Example
Return the first ancestor element of the `
` element, which is a `` element:
```javascript
$(document).ready(function(){
$("span").closest("ul").css({"color":"red","border":"2px solid red"});
});
[Try it Yourself »](#)
* * *
## Definition and Usage
The `closest()` method returns the first ancestor element of the selected element.
Ancestors are parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, and so on.
**DOM Tree:** The method traverses up the DOM tree from the current element towards the document root (``) to find the first ancestor element.
This method is similar to [parents()](#), as both traverse up the DOM tree. The difference is:
**_closest()_**
* Starts from the current element
* Traverses up the DOM tree and returns the first single ancestor that matches the passed expression
* Returns a jQuery object containing zero or one element
**_parents()_**
* Starts from the parent element
* Traverses up the DOM tree and returns all ancestors that match the passed expression
* Returns a jQuery object containing zero, one, or multiple elements
**Other Related Methods:**
- Returns the direct parent element of the selected element
- Returns all ancestor elements between two given arguments
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## Syntax
Return the first ancestor element of the selected element:
```javascript
$(selector).closest(filter)
Return the first ancestor element in the DOM tree, found using a DOM context:
```javascript
$(selector).closest(filter, context)
| Parameter | Description |
| :--- | :--- |
| _filter_ | Required. Specifies a selector expression, element, or jQuery object to narrow the search for ancestor elements. |
| _context_ | Optional. A DOM element within which to find matching elements. |
## More Examples
[Return the first ancestor element of the `` element, which is a `` element](#)
Since the method starts from the current element, searching for the first `` of the `` will return the `` itself.
(#)
Using two parameters to pass a DOM element as context to search for the first `` element.
* * jQuery Traversing Methods](#)
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