When it comes to focus the first text field on a page using jQuery , the usual solution would be:

$(":text:visible:enabled:eq(0)").focus();

This query means to find the first of input text field(s), which is/are visible and enabled. However, this would also extract text field(s) which is/are under a display:none parent(s). So a more complete way would be:

$(":text:visible:enabled").filter(function(){
     return $(this).parents(":hidden").size()==0;
 }).slice(0,1).focus();

The filter here would try to determine if the text field is a descendant of a hidden ancestor. The usage of slice(0,1) instead of get(0) is to keep the chainability. A test page is put up here .

Finally, you may wrap it up with a plugin:

(function($){
    $.fn.focusFirstField = function(){
        $this = this;
        $this.find(":text:visible:enabled").filter(function(){
            return $(this).parents(":hidden").size() == 0;
        }).slice(0,1).focus();
        return this;
    }
})(jQuery)

So that you can do this:

$("#form1,#form2").focusFirstField(); //form1 or form2 may be 'hidden' dynamically

I just wonder if there is any ‘selector-only’ solution for this?

Update: It turns out that the child’s visiblity would override parent’s visibility. So the filter should only check display none:

$(":text:visible:enabled").filter(function(){
     return $(this).parents.filter(function(){ 
         return this.style.display  "none"; })
    .size()0;
 }).slice(0,1).focus();

I’ve updated the demo page .