I am trying to generate a table dynamically using ajax call. To simplify things i have just added my code to js fiddle here - http://jsfiddle.net/5yLrE/81/ As you click on the button "HI" first two columns are created properly.. but some how as the td length reaches 2 . its not creating another row. The reason is that when i do find on the table elements its actually retrieving the children table elements. Can some one pls help. I want a two column table.. Thank you. sample code: var tr = $("#maintable tbody tr:first"); if(!tr.length || tr.find("td:first").length >= max) { $("#maintable").append("<tr>"); } if(count==0) { $("#maintable tr:last").append("<td>hi"+content+"</td>"); }