HTML: select

The <select> element lets users choose one or more values from a predefined list of options.

Minimal example

<label for="country">Country</label>
<select id="country" name="country" required>
  <option value="">Choose a country</option>
  <option value="jp">Japan</option>
  <option value="us">United States</option>
</select>

Each <option> has a submitted value and visible text. A disabled placeholder with an empty value can prompt a required choice without becoming a valid selection.

Common mistakes

• Do not rely on visible text alone; choose stable values for submitted data.
• Use multiple only when selecting several values is genuinely useful and explain how to operate it.
• Validate the submitted value against allowed choices on the server.