I have come across some JS/jQuery code and am trying to find out what the ^= operator means. I can't find anything like this when Googling it.

The HTML page contains a form with these input fields:

<input type="text" id="name" name="name[1]" value="" size="22"/>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name[2]" value="" size="22"/>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name[3]" value="" size="22"/>

The JS validates the form before sending it to the server. Can somebody explain to me how the jQuery selector that is used in the lines with val and each works (or point me to the documentation)?

jQuery("button#finish").click(function(e) {
  var error = false;
  e.preventDefault();
  if (jQuery("[name^=name]").val() != "" ) {
    jQuery("[name^=name]").each(function(){ 
      if (jQuery(this).val() == "") { jQuery(this).closest("tr").remove(); }
    }); 
    
    if ( ! error) { jQuery("#form_names").submit(); }
  }
  else { alert("Bitte mindestens eine Person zuoberst in das Formular eintragen."); }

  });