[jQuery] .value= / .val()

[jQuery] .value= / .val()


question:
i have following code: why its not possible to write on this way in
the city.value?
$("#zip_code").blur(function(){
var zip = "zip_code=" + this.value;
$.get("?route=Adress/zipCityLookup", zip, function(xml){
--> $("#city").value= $("city", xml).text();
});
});
When i has following code its possible to write on this way in the
zip_code.value
$("#zip_code").blur(function(){
--> this.value="4563";
});
Why i must use the .val() function?
$("#zip_code").blur(function(){
var zip = "zip_code=" + this.value;
$.get("?route=Adress/zipCityLookup", zip, function(xml){
--> $("#city").val($("city", xml).text());
});
});