Adobe Illustrator: make a gradient ellipse over shape and cut everything outside

Question

How can I make an Ellipse with gradient on separated layer, and remove everything, which is not in shape, located on another layer?

I will describe it on a schema, like I do this in Photoshop (example):

1) I create an object, for example a text. Then I create an ellipse selection, that i want to fill later with gradient:

2) Then I make a gradient, inside this ellipse

3) As a result I get:

4) Then on a text layer a make a selection & revert it, so I can later remove everything, that is outside my text:

5) Then I click delete on a gradient layer - and gradient, that is outside my shape (text) - is removed. As result I have a nice text, with a good gradient, that will not cause any issues, if I change my background.

And that's the problem with AI. How can i do the same in Adobe Illustrator? For example I have such two objects on two layers, and want to add a gradient on both of them (ellipse), and later cut everything in this gradient, that is outside my layer. Is it possible to do? And how?

Answer 1

After making the ellipse and the text:

• Outline the text from Menu Type > Create Outlines
• Select the text and the ellipse
• Using the Shape Builder Tool and pressing Alt to delete, click once on the area of the ellipse outside the text
• Select the new shapes > Menu Object > Compound Path > Make
• Apply a Radial Gradient and modify the gradient shape using the Gradient Annotator