if you need append some string to element and need set some attribute on these string at the same time,you‘b better use appendTo funtion.because you can use this function like this:

 $(str).appendTo(‘.content tbody‘).data(action, EditAction.Add);

but is you use append function,you should use it like this:

 $(‘.content tbody‘).append(str) $(str).data(action, EditAction.Add);//it can‘t work some times

as comment say,it can‘t work some times,especially in the IE.

the another difference is you can use function to append something,the syntax is append(fn).

difference between append and appendTo