HTML selected Attribute

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

The selected attribute is a crucial feature in HTML, particularly when working with dropdown lists or <select> elements.

This attribute allows developers to predefine an option as selected, providing a default choice for users when they interact with the dropdown.

🎯 Purpose of selected

The primary purpose of the selected attribute is to specify the initially selected option within a <select> element.

This is beneficial when you want to highlight a default choice or prefill the dropdown with a specific value.

💎 Values

The selected attribute is a Boolean attribute, meaning it doesn't require a value. Its presence alone indicates that the option is selected. Here's an example:

selected.html

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<select>
  <option value="option1" selected>Option 1</option>
  <option value="option2">Option 2</option>
  <option value="option3">Option 3</option>
</select>

🧠 How it Works

In this example, "Option 1" is set as the default selected option due to the presence of the selected attribute.

📄 Example

Let's consider a more practical scenario where the selected attribute is used within a form:

selected.html

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<form>
  <label for="car">Select Your Car:</label>
  <select id="car" name="car">
    <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
    <option value="saab">Saab</option>
    <option value="mercedes" selected>Mercedes</option>
    <option value="audi">Audi</option>
  </select>

  <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

🧠 How it Works

In this case, "Mercedes" is initially selected when the form loads.

🔄 Dynamic Values with JavaScript

You can dynamically set the selected attribute using JavaScript.

This is useful when you want to update the selected option based on user interactions or certain conditions. Here's a simple example:

selected.html

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<script>
  // Dynamically set selected option based on a condition
  var conditionMet = true;

  if (conditionMet) {
    document.getElementById("dynamicSelect").value = "saab";
  }
</script>

🧠 How it Works

In this script, if the conditionMet variable is true, the option with the value "saab" in the dropdown with the id "dynamicSelect" will be dynamically selected.

🏆 Best Practices

• Use the selected attribute to provide a default option for users, especially when one choice is more commonly selected.
• Be mindful of accessibility considerations when preselecting options. Ensure that the default selection makes sense in the context of the form.
• Test your forms across different browsers to ensure consistent behavior.

🎉 Conclusion

The selected attribute is a valuable tool for defining default selections in HTML dropdowns.

By leveraging this attribute, you can enhance the user experience and guide users towards common or recommended choices.

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Author

👋 Hey, I'm Mari Selvan

For over eight years, I worked as a full-stack web developer. Now, I have chosen my profession as a full-time blogger at codetofun.com.

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