.text()

The .text() method gets or sets the text of an HTML element.

Getting text, the .text() method is called without a parameter:

$(selector).text();

Setting text, the .text() method is called with a parameter containing the new text:

$(selector).text(newtext)

The following jQuery code will read and reset the text in #p1 when #btn is clicked:

$("#btn").click(function() {
  alert($("#p1").text());
  $("#p1").text("New Text.");
});