{
  "doc": {
    "id": "api/commands/parent",
    "title": "parent | Cypress Documentation",
    "description": "Get the parent DOM element of a set of DOM elements in Cypress.",
    "section": "api",
    "source_path": "/llm/markdown/api/commands/parent.md",
    "version": "e6988a974973e9090ce70406c38cb2b9e0eac9fa",
    "updated_at": "2026-05-15T15:50:22.536Z",
    "headings": [
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#parent",
        "text": "parent",
        "level": 1
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#syntax",
        "text": "Syntax",
        "level": 2
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#usage",
        "text": "Usage",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#arguments",
        "text": "Arguments",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#yields-learn-about-subject-management",
        "text": "Yields Learn about subject management",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#examples",
        "text": "Examples",
        "level": 2
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#no-args",
        "text": "No Args",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#get-the-parent-of-the-active-li",
        "text": "Get the parent of the active li",
        "level": 4
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#selector",
        "text": "Selector",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#get-the-parent-with-class-sub-nav-of-all-li-elements",
        "text": "Get the parent with class sub-nav of all li elements",
        "level": 4
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#rules",
        "text": "Rules",
        "level": 2
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#requirements-learn-about-chaining-commands",
        "text": "Requirements Learn about chaining commands",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#assertions-learn-about-assertions",
        "text": "Assertions Learn about assertions",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#timeouts-learn-about-timeouts",
        "text": "Timeouts Learn about timeouts",
        "level": 3
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#command-log",
        "text": "Command Log",
        "level": 2
      },
      {
        "id": "api/commands/parent#see-also",
        "text": "See also",
        "level": 2
      }
    ]
  },
  "content": {
    "type": "root",
    "children": [
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 1,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "parent"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Get the parent DOM element of a set of DOM elements."
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Please note that `.parent()` only travels a single level up the DOM tree as opposed to the "
          },
          {
            "type": "link",
            "title": null,
            "url": "/llm/markdown/api/commands/parents.md",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "text",
                "value": ".parents()"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": " command."
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "The querying behavior of this command matches exactly how "
          },
          {
            "type": "link",
            "title": null,
            "url": "http://api.jquery.com/parent",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "text",
                "value": "`.parent()`"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": " works in jQuery."
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 2,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Syntax"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": ".parent().parent(selector).parent(options).parent(selector, options)"
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Usage"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Correct Usage"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "cy.get('header').parent() // Yield parent el of `header`"
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Incorrect Usage"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "cy.parent() // Errors, cannot be chained off 'cy'cy.reload().parent() // Errors, 'reload' does not yield DOM element"
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Arguments"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "selector (String selector)"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "A selector used to filter matching DOM elements."
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "options (Object)"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Pass in an options object to change the default behavior of `.parent()`."
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "table",
        "align": [
          null,
          null,
          null
        ],
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "tableRow",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "Option"
                  }
                ]
              },
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "Default"
                  }
                ]
              },
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "Description"
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "tableRow",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`log`"
                  }
                ]
              },
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`true`"
                  }
                ]
              },
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "Displays the command in the "
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/open-mode.md#Command-Log",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "Command log"
                      }
                    ]
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "tableRow",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`timeout`"
                  }
                ]
              },
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/app/references/configuration.md#Timeouts",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "`defaultCommandTimeout`"
                      }
                    ]
                  }
                ]
              },
              {
                "type": "tableCell",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "Time to wait for `.parent()` to resolve before "
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "#Timeouts",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "timing out"
                      }
                    ]
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Yields "
          },
          {
            "type": "link",
            "title": null,
            "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/introduction-to-cypress.md#Subject-Management",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "text",
                "value": "Learn about subject management"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "list",
        "ordered": false,
        "start": null,
        "spread": false,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` yields the new DOM element(s) it found."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` is a query, and it is safe to chain further commands."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 2,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Examples"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "No Args"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 4,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Get the parent of the active `li`"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "<ul class=\"main-nav\">  <li>Overview</li>  <li>    Getting started    <ul class=\"sub-nav\">      <li>Install</li>      <li class=\"active\">Build</li>      <li>Test</li>    </ul>  </li></ul>"
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "// yields .sub-navcy.get('li.active').parent()"
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Selector"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 4,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Get the parent with class `sub-nav` of all `li` elements"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "<ul class=\"main-nav\">  <li>Overview</li>  <li>    Getting started    <ul class=\"sub-nav\">      <li>Install</li>      <li class=\"active\">Build</li>      <li>Test</li>    </ul>  </li></ul>"
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "// yields .sub-navcy.get('li').parent('.sub-nav')"
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 2,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Rules"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Requirements "
          },
          {
            "type": "link",
            "title": null,
            "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/introduction-to-cypress.md#Chains-of-Commands",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "text",
                "value": "Learn about chaining commands"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "list",
        "ordered": false,
        "start": null,
        "spread": false,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` requires being chained off a command that yields DOM element(s)."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Assertions "
          },
          {
            "type": "link",
            "title": null,
            "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/introduction-to-cypress.md#Assertions",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "text",
                "value": "Learn about assertions"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "list",
        "ordered": false,
        "start": null,
        "spread": false,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` will automatically "
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/retry-ability.md",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "retry"
                      }
                    ]
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": " until the element(s) "
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/introduction-to-cypress.md#Implicit-Assertions",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "exist in the DOM"
                      }
                    ]
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` will automatically "
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/retry-ability.md",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "retry"
                      }
                    ]
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": " until all chained assertions have passed."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 3,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Timeouts "
          },
          {
            "type": "link",
            "title": null,
            "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/introduction-to-cypress.md#Timeouts",
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "text",
                "value": "Learn about timeouts"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "list",
        "ordered": false,
        "start": null,
        "spread": false,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` can time out waiting for the element(s) to "
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/app/core-concepts/introduction-to-cypress.md#Implicit-Assertions",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "exist in the DOM"
                      }
                    ]
                  },
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
              {
                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "text",
                    "value": "`.parent()` can time out waiting for assertions you've added to pass."
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 2,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Command Log"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Assert on the parent of the active li"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "code",
        "lang": null,
        "meta": null,
        "value": "cy.get('li.active').parent().should('have.class', 'nav')"
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "The commands above will display in the Command Log as:"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "paragraph",
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "When clicking on the `parent` command within the command log, the console outputs the following:"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "type": "heading",
        "depth": 2,
        "children": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "value": "See also"
          }
        ]
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                    "type": "link",
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                    "url": "/llm/markdown/api/commands/children.md",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "`.children()`"
                      }
                    ]
                  }
                ]
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            ]
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            "checked": null,
            "children": [
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                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
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                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/api/commands/parents.md",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "`.parents()`"
                      }
                    ]
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "type": "listItem",
            "spread": false,
            "checked": null,
            "children": [
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                "type": "paragraph",
                "children": [
                  {
                    "type": "link",
                    "title": null,
                    "url": "/llm/markdown/api/commands/parentsuntil.md",
                    "children": [
                      {
                        "type": "text",
                        "value": "`.parentsUntil()`"
                      }
                    ]
                  }
                ]
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
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}