title: Why does jQuery.val() behave differently to the rest of jQuery
body: <p>Typically in a case where jQuery fails to find matching elements using its selector the default value is never an exception but rather a lack of action. </p>
  
  <p>My understanding is this is done by design to ensure that the lack of an element does not result in an error condition. However I have found that <code>jQuery.val()</code> does not exhibit this same behaviour. If a selected element does not exist <code>jQuery.val()</code> will return <code>undefined</code> rather than an empty string (which in keeping with the remainder of the framework I would have expected).</p>
  
  <p>So why is <code>jQuery.val()</code> an exception to the rest of the framework and what would be the best way to change this behaviour?</p>