How to get selected value from Dropdown list in JavaScript

Question

How can you get the selected value from drop down list using JavaScript? I have tried the following but it does not work.

var sel = document.getElementById('select1');
var sv = sel.options[sel.selectedIndex].value;
alert(sv);

Answer 1

It is working fine with me.

I have the following HTML:

<div>
    <select id="select1">
        <option value="1">test1</option>
        <option value="2" selected="selected">test2</option>
        <option value="3">test3</option>
    </select>
    <br/>
    <button onClick="GetSelectedItem('select1');">Get Selected Item</button>
</div>

And the following JavaScript:

function GetSelectedItem(el)
{
    var e = document.getElementById(el);
    var strSel = "The Value is: " + e.options[e.selectedIndex].value + " and text is: " + e.options[e.selectedIndex].text;
    alert(strSel);
}

See that you are using the right id. In case you are using it with ASP.NET, the id changes when rendered.

Answer 2

Direct value should work just fine:

var sv = sel.value;
alert(sv);

The only reason your code might fail is when there is no item selected, then the selectedIndex returns -1 and the code breaks.

Answer 3

Hope it's working for you

 function GetSelectedItem()
 {
     var index = document.getElementById(select1).selectedIndex;

     alert("value =" + document.getElementById(select1).value); // show selected value
     alert("text =" + document.getElementById(select1).options[index].text); // show selected text 
 }

Answer 4

Here is a simple example to get the selected value of dropdown in javascript

First we design the UI for dropdown

<div class="col-xs-12">
<select class="form-control" id="language">
    <option>---SELECT---</option>
    <option>JAVA</option>
    <option>C</option>
    <option>C++</option>
    <option>PERL</option>
</select>

Next we need to write script to get the selected item

<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function () {
    $('#language').change(function () {
        var doc = document.getElementById("language");
        alert("You selected " + doc.options[doc.selectedIndex].value);
    });
});

Now When change the dropdown the selected item will be alert.

Answer 5

I would say change var sv = sel.options[sel.selectedIndex].value; to var sv = sel.options[sel.selectedIndex].text;

It worked for me. Directing you to where I found my solution Getting the selected value dropdown jstl

Answer 6

According to Html5 specs you should use -- element.options[e.selectedIndex].text

e.g. if you have select box like below :

<select id="selectbox1">
    <option value="1">First</option>
    <option value="2" selected="selected">Second</option>
    <option value="3">Third</option>
</select>
<br/>
<button onClick="GetItemValue('selectbox1');">Get Item</button>

you can get value using following script :

<script>
 function GetItemValue(q) {
   var e = document.getElementById(q);
   var selValue = e.options[e.selectedIndex].text ;
   alert("Selected Value: "+selValue);
 }
</script>

Tried and tested.