SelectExtensions.DropDownList Method (HtmlHelper, String, String)

Returns a single-selection select element using the specified HTML helper, the name of the form field, and an option label.

Namespace: System.Web.Mvc.Html
Assembly: System.Web.Mvc (in System.Web.Mvc.dll)

Syntax

C++

JScript

static member DropDownList : 
        htmlHelper:HtmlHelper * 
        name:string * 
        optionLabel:string -> MvcHtmlString

Parameters

htmlHelper: Type: System.Web.Mvc.HtmlHelper
The HTML helper instance that this method extends.

name: Type: System.String
The name of the form field to return.

optionLabel: Type: System.String
The text for a default empty item. This parameter can be a null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).

Return Value

Type: System.Web.Mvc.MvcHtmlString
An HTML select element with an option subelement for each item in the list.

Usage Note

In Visual Basic and C#, you can call this method as an instance method on any object of type HtmlHelper. When you use instance method syntax to call this method, omit the first parameter. For more information, see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb384936(v=vs.108) or https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb383977(v=vs.108).

Exceptions

Exception	Condition
ArgumentException	The name parameter is a null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic) or empty.

Remarks

The DropDownList method renders an element that enables the user to select one item from a drop-down list. Each item in the list is a SelectListItem object.

The difference between calling the DropDownList method and using a select element is that the DropDownList method is designed to make it easy to bind to view data or model data.