creating new elements with jQuery -

i reading basic documentation on using jquery at: http://learn.jquery.com/using-jquery-core/manipulating-elements/

in section titled, "creating new elements", there second example follows:

// creating new element attribute object $( "<a/>", {     html : "this <strong>new</strong> link",     "class" : "new",     href : "foo.html" }); 

i not understand completely.

1. how creating element invalid html as: 'a' followed forward slash?

2. i have never seen "html" attribute ever in life.

any explanations example helpful.

<a/> merely self-closing tag , rewritten $("<a></a>") instead.

the value of html property jquery uses set inner html content.