selected attribute | selected property

Sets or retrieves whether the option in the list box is the default item.

Syntax

Property values

Type: Boolean

false (false)

Default. Item is not selected as the default.

true (true)

Item is selected as the default.

Standards information

• Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification, Section 2.5.5
• HTML 4.01 Specification, Section 17.6.1

Remarks

If the property is not set, the first item is selected by default.

The property determines whether a value is submitted with the form. If the value of the control matches the default value, the control's value is not submitted. The value is submitted only when the control's value does not match the default value.

To select an item in HTML, it is not necessary to set the value of the SELECTED attribute to true. The mere presence of the SELECTED attribute sets its value to true.

See also

option

defaultSelected