Dropdown
Dropdown also known as Select, is used to choose an item from a collection of options.
When to use
- The dropdown component allows users to choose one option from a list. It is used in forms for users to submit data.
- Use the dropdown component inside a form where users select from a list of options and submit data.
Guidelines
- Avoid long lists. This leads to scrolling issues, therefore causing usability and accessibility issues.
- For field that do need a long list, use filter as it has search option to filter data and select multiple options.
- Avoid using select lists for data that is familiar to users, e.g., day, month, year of their birth.
- Make sure the label is always in view, so users are reminded of what the selection is made.
- Grouping the options semantically when using long lists can help with usability and accessibility.
Basic
Dropdown is used as a controlled component with Select tag along with an options collection. Label and value of an option are defined with the label tag and option value respectively.
<div class="select"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control" name="state" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> </div>
Sizes
"dropdown-sm" & "dropdoen-lg" classes are used with dropdown class for respective size options.
<div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-md-6 mb-3"> <div class="select dropdown-sm"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control" name="state" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-md-6 mb-3"> <div class="select"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control" name="state" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="select dropdown-lg"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control form-control-lg" name="state" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> </div> </div> </div>
Group
Options can be grouped when a nested data structures is provided.
<div class="select"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-group form-control" aria-hidden="true" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity"> <optgroup label="Alaskan/Hawaiian Time Zone"> <option value="AK">Alaska</option> <option value="HI">Hawaii</option> </optgroup> <optgroup label="Pacific Time Zone"> <option value="CA">California</option> <option value="NV">Nevada</option> <option value="OR">Oregon</option> <option value="WA">Washington</option> </optgroup> <optgroup label="Mountain Time Zone"> <option value="AZ">Arizona</option> <option value="CO">Colorado</option> <option value="ID">Idaho</option> <option value="MT">Montana</option> <option value="NE">Nebraska</option> <option value="NM">New Mexico</option> <option value="ND">North Dakota</option> <option value="UT">Utah</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </optgroup> <optgroup label="Central Time Zone"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="AR">Arkansas</option> <option value="IL">Illinois</option> <option value="IA">Iowa</option> <option value="KS">Kansas</option> <option value="KY">Kentucky</option> <option value="LA">Louisiana</option> <option value="MN">Minnesota</option> <option value="MS">Mississippi</option> <option value="MO">Missouri</option> <option value="OK">Oklahoma</option> <option value="SD">South Dakota</option> <option value="TX">Texas</option> <option value="TN">Tennessee</option> <option value="WI">Wisconsin</option> </optgroup> <optgroup label="Eastern Time Zone"> <option value="CT">Connecticut</option> <option value="DE">Delaware</option> <option value="FL">Florida</option> <option value="GA">Georgia</option> <option value="IN">Indiana</option> <option value="ME">Maine</option> <option value="MD">Maryland</option> <option value="MA">Massachusetts</option> <option value="MI">Michigan</option> <option value="NH">New Hampshire</option> <option value="NJ">New Jersey</option> <option value="NY">New York</option> <option value="NC">North Carolina</option> <option value="OH">Ohio</option> <option value="PA">Pennsylvania</option> <option value="RI">Rhode Island</option> <option value="SC">South Carolina</option> <option value="VT">Vermont</option> <option value="VA">Virginia</option> <option value="WV">West Virginia</option> </optgroup> </select> </div>
Filter
Dropdown provides built-in filtering that is enabled by adding the "js-example-basic-filter" class.
<div class="select"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control" name="state"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> </div>
Disabled
When disabled is present, the element cannot be edited. Disabled attribute is implemented.
<div class="select"> <label class="form-label">Select city</label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control" name="state" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity" disabled> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> </div>
Invalid
Invalid state style is added using the ‘invalid’ class to indicate a failed validation.
This field is mandatory
<div class="select"> <label class="form-label">Select city<span class="asterisk">*</span></label> <select class="js-example-basic-filter form-control invalid" name="state" data-minimum-results-for-search="Infinity"> <option value="AL">Alabama</option> <option value="WY">Wyoming</option> </select> <div class="invalidtext-wrapper"> <span class="invalidtext">This field is mandatory</span> </div> </div>
Accessibility
- The component uses semantic markup and therefore it should be accessible.
- Ensure the component is fully accessible for keyboard-only users as well.
- Use a unique id for each option.
- If the selected field is required, include the aria-required property and indicate that it is a required field and use the validation message for input errors.
- aria-haspop = listitems is being used to indicate the availability and type of interactive popup element that can be triggered by the element on which it is set. The aria-haspopup state informs assistive technology users that there is a popup and the type of popup it is.