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<option> (Option in Selection List)

This element specifies an item in a selection list defined by the select element.

Standard Syntax

<option

class="class name(s)"
dir="ltr | rtl"
disabled="disabled"
id="unique alphanumeric identifier"
label="text description"
lang="language code"
selected="selected"
style="style information"
title="advisory text"
value="option value">

</option>

Attributes Defined by Internet Explorer

language="javascript | jscript | vbs | vbscript"(4)

Standard Event Attributes

onclick, ondblclick, onkeydown, onkeypress, onkeyup, onmousedown, onmouseomove, onmouseout, onmouseover, onmouseup

Events Defined by Internet Explorer

onlayoutcomplete, onlosecapture, onpropertychange, onreadystatechange, onselectstart, ontimeerror

Element Specific Attributes

disabled: Presence of this attribute indicates that the particular item is not selectable. Traditional HTML did not require a value for this attribute, but it should be set to disabled under XHTML.
label: This attribute contains a short label that might be more appealing to use when the selection list is rendered as a hierarchy due to the presence of an optgroup element.
selected: This attribute indicates that the associated item is the default selection. If not included, the first item in the selection list is the default. If the select element enclosing the option elements has the multiple attribute, the selected attribute might occur in multiple entries. Otherwise, it should occur in only one entry. Under XHTML, the value of the selected attribute must be set to selected.
value: This attribute indicates the value to be included with the form result when the item is selected.

Example

Which is your favorite dog?
<select>
  <option value="Scotty">Angus</option>
  <option value="Golden Retriever">Borrego</option>
  <option value="Choco Lab">Dutch</option>
  <option value="Mini Schnauzer" selected="selected">Tucker</option>
</select>

Compatibility

HTML 2, 3.2. 4, 4.01
XHTML 1.0, 1.1, Basic
Internet Explorer 2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6
Netscape 1, 2, 3, 4, 4.5 – 4.8, 6, 7
Opera 4-7

Notes

Under HTML specifications, the closing tag for <option> is optional. However, for XHTML compatibility the closing tag </option> is required.

This element should occur only within the context of a select element.

The HTML 2.0 and 3.2 specifications define only the selected and value attributes for this element.

CSS Properties

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<About> <Chapters> <Examples> <Errata> <Reference> Appendix A Flavors of HTML and XHTML Core Attributes Reference Language Attributes Reference Common Internet Explorer Attributes Reference Event Attributes Reference HTML Element Reference Appendix B - CSS Appendix C - Entities Appendix D - Fonts Appendix E - Colors <Home>	home » reference » appendix a » html element reference <option> (Option in Selection List) This element specifies an item in a selection list defined by the select element. Standard Syntax <option class="class name(s)" dir="ltr \| rtl" disabled="disabled" id="unique alphanumeric identifier" label="text description" lang="language code" selected="selected" style="style information" title="advisory text" value="option value"> </option> Attributes Defined by Internet Explorer language="javascript \| jscript \| vbs \| vbscript"(4) Standard Event Attributes onclick, ondblclick, onkeydown, onkeypress, onkeyup, onmousedown, onmouseomove, onmouseout, onmouseover, onmouseup Events Defined by Internet Explorer onlayoutcomplete, onlosecapture, onpropertychange, onreadystatechange, onselectstart, ontimeerror Element Specific Attributes disabled Presence of this attribute indicates that the particular item is not selectable. Traditional HTML did not require a value for this attribute, but it should be set to disabled under XHTML. label This attribute contains a short label that might be more appealing to use when the selection list is rendered as a hierarchy due to the presence of an optgroup element. selected This attribute indicates that the associated item is the default selection. If not included, the first item in the selection list is the default. If the select element enclosing the option elements has the multiple attribute, the selected attribute might occur in multiple entries. Otherwise, it should occur in only one entry. Under XHTML, the value of the selected attribute must be set to selected. value This attribute indicates the value to be included with the form result when the item is selected. Example Which is your favorite dog? <select> <option value="Scotty">Angus</option> <option value="Golden Retriever">Borrego</option> <option value="Choco Lab">Dutch</option> <option value="Mini Schnauzer" selected="selected">Tucker</option> </select> Compatibility HTML 2, 3.2. 4, 4.01 XHTML 1.0, 1.1, Basic Internet Explorer 2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6 Netscape 1, 2, 3, 4, 4.5 – 4.8, 6, 7 Opera 4-7 Notes Under HTML specifications, the closing tag for <option> is optional. However, for XHTML compatibility the closing tag </option> is required. This element should occur only within the context of a select element. The HTML 2.0 and 3.2 specifications define only the selected and value attributes for this element.		(X)HTML Elements CSS Properties
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