Similar to jQuery .closest() but traversing descendants?

Question

Is there a function similar to jQuery .closest() but for traversing descendants and returning only closest ones?

I know that there is

Answer 1

Even though it's an old topic I could not resist implementing my closestChild. Delivers the first found descendant with least traveling ( breath first ). One is recursive (personal favorite ), other using a todo list so without recursion as jQquery extensions.

Hope someone benefits.

Note : The recursive gets stack overflow, and I improved the other, now simular to previous answer given.

jQuery.fn.extend( {

    closestChild_err : function( selector ) { // recursive, stack overflow when not found
        var found = this.children( selector ).first();
        if ( found.length == 0 ) {
            found = this.children().closestChild( selector ).first(); // check all children
        }
        return found;
    },

    closestChild : function( selector ) {
        var todo = this.children(); // start whith children, excluding this
        while ( todo.length > 0 ) {
            var found = todo.filter( selector );
            if ( found.length > 0 ) { // found closest: happy
                return found.first();
            } else {
                todo = todo.children();
            }
        }
        return $();
    },

});