<select id="select1"> <optgroup label="Swedish Cars"> <option value ="volvo">Volvo</option> <option value ="saab">Saab</option> </optgroup> <optgroup label="German Cars"> <option value ="mercedes">Mercedes</option> <option value ="audi">Audi</option> </optgroup> </select> jQuery("#select1 option:selected").text();
jQuery("#select1 option:selected").text();