Web/API/HTMLSelectElement

The HTMLSelectElement interface represents a <select> HTML Element. These elements also share all of the properties and methods of other HTML elements via the HTMLElement interface.

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Properties

This interface inherits the properties of HTMLElement, and of Element and Node.

HTMLSelectElement.autofocus: A Boolean reflecting the autofocus HTML attribute, which indicates whether the control should have input focus when the page loads, unless the user overrides it, for example by typing in a different control. Only one form-associated element in a document can have this attribute specified.
HTMLSelectElement.disabled: A Boolean reflecting the disabled HTML attribute, which indicates whether the control is disabled. If it is disabled, it does not accept clicks.
HTMLSelectElement.formRead only: An HTMLFormElement referencing the form that this element is associated with. If the element is not associated with of a <form> element, then it returns null.
HTMLSelectElement.labelsRead only: A NodeList of <label> elements associated with the element.
HTMLSelectElement.length: An unsigned long The number of <option> elements in this select element.
HTMLSelectElement.multiple: A Boolean reflecting the multiple HTML attribute, which indicates whether multiple items can be selected.
HTMLSelectElement.name: A DOMString reflecting the name HTML attribute, containing the name of this control used by servers and DOM search functions.
HTMLSelectElement.optionsRead only: An HTMLOptionsCollection representing the set of <option> (HTMLOptionElement) elements contained by this element.
HTMLSelectElement.required: A Boolean reflecting the required HTML attribute, which indicates whether the user is required to select a value before submitting the form.
HTMLSelectElement.selectedIndex: A long reflecting the index of the first selected <option> element. The value -1 indicates no element is selected.
HTMLSelectElement.selectedOptionsRead only: An HTMLCollection representing the set of <option> elements that are selected.
HTMLSelectElement.size: A long reflecting the size HTML attribute, which contains the number of visible items in the control. The default is 1, unless multiple is true, in which case it is 4.
HTMLSelectElement.typeRead only: A DOMString represeting the form control's type. When multiple is true, it returns "select-multiple"; otherwise, it returns "select-one".
HTMLSelectElement.validationMessageRead only: A DOMString representing a localized message that describes the validation constraints that the control does not satisfy (if any). This attribute is the empty string if the control is not a candidate for constraint validation (willValidate is false), or it satisfies its constraints.
HTMLSelectElement.validityRead only: A ValidityState reflecting the validity state that this control is in.
HTMLSelectElement.value: A DOMString reflecting the value of the form control. Returns the value property of the first selected option element if there is one, otherwise the empty string.
HTMLSelectElement.willValidateRead only: A Boolean that indicates whether the button is a candidate for constraint validation. It is false if any conditions bar it from constraint validation.

Methods

This interface inherits the methods of HTMLElement, and of Element and Node.

HTMLSelectElement.add(): Adds an element to the collection of option elements for this select element.
HTMLSelectElement.blur() ': Removes input focus from this element. This method is now implemented on HTMLElement.
HTMLSelectElement.checkValidity(): Checks whether the element has any constraints and whether it satisfies them. If the element fails its constraints, the browser fires a cancelable invalid event at the element (and returns false).
HTMLSelectElement.focus() ': Gives input focus to this element. This method is now implemented on HTMLElement.
HTMLSelectElement.item(): Gets an item from the options collection for this <select> element. You can also access an item by specifying the index in array-style brackets or parentheses, without calling this method explicitly.
HTMLSelectElement.namedItem(): Gets the item in the options collection with the specified name. The name string can match either the id or the name attribute of an option node. You can also access an item by specifying the name in array-style brackets or parentheses, without calling this method explicitly.
HTMLSelectElement.remove(): Removes the element at the specified index from the options collection for this select element.
HTMLSelectElement.reportValidity(): This method reports the problems with the constraints on the element, if any, to the user. If there are problems, it fires a cancelable invalid event at the element, and returns false; if there are no problems, it returns true.
HTMLSelectElement.setCustomValidity(): Sets the custom validity message for the selection element to the specified message. Use the empty string to indicate that the element does not have a custom validity error.

Events

Listen to these events using addEventListener() or by assigning an event listener to the oneventname property of this interface:

input event: Fires when the value of an <input>, <select>, or <textarea> element has been changed.

Example

Get information about the selected option

/* assuming we have the following HTML
<select id='s'>
    <option>First</option>
    <option selected>Second</option>
    <option>Third</option>
</select>
*/

var select = document.getElementById('s');

// return the index of the selected option
console.log(select.selectedIndex); // 1

// return the value of the selected option
console.log(select.options[select.selectedIndex].value) // Second

A better way to track changes to the user's selection is to watch for the change event to occur on the <select>. This will tell you when the value changes, and you can then update anything you need to. See the example provided in the documentation for the change event for details.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of 'HTMLSelectElement' in that specification.	Living Standard	Since the latest snapshot, HTML5, it adds the `autocomplete` property and the `reportValidity()` method.
HTML5The definition of 'HTMLSelectElement' in that specification.	Recommendation	Is a snapshot of HTML Living Standard. It adds the `autofocus`, `form`, `required`, `labels`, `selectedOptions`, `willValidate`, `validity` and `validationMessage` properties. The `tabindex` property and the `blur()` and `focus()` methods have been moved to `HTMLElement`. The methods `item()`, `namedItem()`, `checkValidity()` and `setCustomValidity()`.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 HTML SpecificationThe definition of 'HTMLSelectElement' in that specification.	Obsolete	`options` now returns an `HTMLOptionsCollection`. `length` now returns an `unsigned long`.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 SpecificationThe definition of 'HTMLSelectElement' in that specification.	Obsolete	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

The compatibility table in this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`HTMLSelectElement`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 2 Notes' Full support 2 Notes' Notes' You should watch for change events on `<select>` instead of watching `<option>` elements for events. See bug 1090602 and Multiprocess Firefox Web content compatibility for details.	IE Full support 1	Opera Full support 2	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 1	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`add`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`autocomplete`	Chrome Full support 66	Edge Full support ≤79	Firefox Full support Yes	IE No support No	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support 66	Chrome Android Full support 66	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support 9.0
`autofocus`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`blur`	Chrome ?	Edge ?	Firefox ?	IE ?	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android ?	Firefox Android ?	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android ?
`checkValidity`	Chrome Full support 4	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 9	Safari Full support 5	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 4.2	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`disabled`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support 9	Opera Full support 9	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`focus`	Chrome ?	Edge ?	Firefox ?	IE ?	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android ?	Firefox Android ?	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android ?
`form`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`item`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`labels`	Chrome Full support 14	Edge Full support 18	Firefox Full support 56	IE No support No	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 56	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`length`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`multiple`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`name`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`namedItem`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12 Notes' Full support 12 Notes' Notes' `namedItem` does not appear to take the `name` attribute into account (only the `id` attribute) on Internet Explorer and Edge. There is a bug report to Microsoft about this.	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support Yes Notes' Full support Yes Notes' Notes' `namedItem` does not appear to take the `name` attribute into account (only the `id` attribute) on Internet Explorer and Edge. There is a bug report to Microsoft about this.	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`options`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`remove`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`reportValidity`	Chrome Full support 40	Edge Full support 17	Firefox Full support 49	IE No support No	Opera Full support 27	Safari Full support 10	WebView Android Full support 40	Chrome Android Full support 40	Firefox Android Full support 64	Opera Android Full support 27	Safari iOS Full support 10	Samsung Internet Android Full support 4.0
`required`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`selectedIndex`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`selectedOptions`	Chrome Full support 19	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 26	IE No support No	Opera Full support 9	Safari Full support 6	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 25	Firefox Android Full support 26	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 6	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5
`setCustomValidity`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`size`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`type`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 2	IE Full support 1	Opera Full support 2	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 1	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`validationMessage`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`validity`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`value`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`willValidate`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Compatibility unknown: Compatibility unknown
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.