Select selectedIndex property

HTML DOM Select Object

Definition and Usage

selectedIndex Property to set or return the index (subscript) of the selected option in the dropdown list.

The index starts from 0.

Note:If the dropdown list allows multiple selections, it will only return the index of the first selected option.

Note:The value "-1" will deselect all options (if any).

Note:If no option is selected, the selectedIndex property will return -1.

See also:

HTML Reference Manual:HTML <select> Tag

Example

Example 1

Select the <option> element with index "2":

document.getElementById("mySelect").selectedIndex = "2";

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Example 2

Display the index and text of the selected option in the dropdown list:

var x = document.getElementById("mySelect").selectedIndex;
var y = document.getElementById("mySelect").options;
alert("Index: " + y[x].index + " is " + y[x].text);

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Example 3

Deselect all options:

document.getElementById("mySelect").selectedIndex = "-1";

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Example 4

If no option is selected, the selectedIndex property will return "-1":

var x = document.getElementById("mySelect").selectedIndex;

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Syntax

Return the selectedIndex property:

selectObject.selectedIndex

Set the selectedIndex property:

selectObject.selectedIndex = number

Attribute Value

Value Description
number Specifies the index (subscript) of the selected option in the drop-down list.

Technical Details

Return Value:

A number representing the index of the selected option in the drop-down list. The index starts from 0.

If no option is selected, the return value is -1.

Browser Support

Chrome Edge Firefox Safari Opera
Chrome Edge Firefox Safari Opera
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HTML DOM Select Object