# :not() Selector

Categories: Selectors > Basic Filter

## not selector

#### version added: 1.0jQuery(':not(selector)')

- selector
    A selector with which to filter by.

Description: Selects all elements that do not match the given selector.

All selectors are accepted inside `:not()`, for example: `:not(div a)` and `:not(div,a)`.

### Additional Notes

The `.not()` method will end up providing you with more readable selections than pushing complex selectors or variables into a `:not()` selector filter. In most cases, it is a better choice.

### Example:

#### Finds all inputs that are not checked and highlights the next sibling span. Notice there is no change when clicking the checkboxes since no click events have been linked.

    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
      <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.7rc2.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>
      <div>
      <input type="checkbox" name="a" />
      <span>Mary</span>
    </div>

    <div>
      <input type="checkbox" name="b" />
      <span>lcm</span>

    </div>
    <div>
      <input type="checkbox" name="c" checked="checked" />

      <span>Peter</span>
    </div>
    <script>
      $("input:not(:checked) + span").css("background-color", "yellow");
      $("input").attr("disabled", "disabled");

    </script>

    </body>
    </html>

#### Demo: