<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function GetSelectedText () {
if (window.getSelection) { // all browsers, except IE before version 9
var selRange = window.getSelection ();
alert (selRange.toString ());
}
else {
if (document.selection) { // Internet Explorer
var textRange = document.selection.createRange ();
alert (textRange.text);
}
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<div>Please select <b>all</b> or a <i>part</i> of this text.</div>
<br />
<button onclick="GetSelectedText ();">Get selected text!</button>
</body>