What should be default value of select (drop down list)?

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I'm wondering what is the best practice of designing select / drop down lists. In some projects I've worked in the select on a form was filled with first value from the list. In other project we had always "-- select --" option chosen before user selected something else. I can imagine also empty field.



Is there any guideline about it? What is state of art in this matter?










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    I'm wondering what is the best practice of designing select / drop down lists. In some projects I've worked in the select on a form was filled with first value from the list. In other project we had always "-- select --" option chosen before user selected something else. I can imagine also empty field.



    Is there any guideline about it? What is state of art in this matter?










    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    Landeeyo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      I'm wondering what is the best practice of designing select / drop down lists. In some projects I've worked in the select on a form was filled with first value from the list. In other project we had always "-- select --" option chosen before user selected something else. I can imagine also empty field.



      Is there any guideline about it? What is state of art in this matter?










      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Landeeyo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      I'm wondering what is the best practice of designing select / drop down lists. In some projects I've worked in the select on a form was filled with first value from the list. In other project we had always "-- select --" option chosen before user selected something else. I can imagine also empty field.



      Is there any guideline about it? What is state of art in this matter?







      drop-down-list select






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          2 Answers
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          up vote
          2
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          I wouldn't say there are guidelines as such, but most design systems provide an insight on how to use dropdowns. Here are a few examples:



          Material Design: Exposed Dropdown Menu



          IOS - Pickers




          Sidenote, Apple generally doesn't like dropdowns, they take you to a whole other page with selections.




          Microsoft Fluent Design Guidelines




          Not exactly what you are looking for but worth taking a look.




          General Guidelines (from my experience):



          Default Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a default state.
          Examples - A dropdown that allows you to select a font. The default font is always selected.
          Guideline - Provide a placeholder with the default option selected.



          No state Dropdowns: Explanation - A dropdown that has no way of knowing the default state of selection. Examples - A dropdown that is used to select your nationality. Guideline - Use an explanatory placeholder. For the example above, the placeholder would be "Select Nationality" or even "Select" would do.



          Field Specific Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a predefined purpose. Examples - Calendars, Time selectors, Username/ Profile selection. Guideline - Use field specific placeholders. If I am designing a calendar input, then the placeholder will specify the day's date. Time selectors will have a similar placeholder displaying the current time. profile selectors for selecting a single profile from a list of profiles will have the current profile being used as a placeholder (see: facebook).



          Hope this helps ^_^






          share|improve this answer








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            up vote
            2
            down vote













            There is no "best practice" here, those two options are completely different.



            Pre-selected - use if you have a reason to believe one of the options is most likely (this can be based on most popular / probable option, or on data you know about the user), or if you want to push the user for that option.



            Blank - "please choose" - use this, if you don't know or if you need to make sure the user makes a conscious choice.






            share|improve this answer




















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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes








              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              2
              down vote



              accepted










              I wouldn't say there are guidelines as such, but most design systems provide an insight on how to use dropdowns. Here are a few examples:



              Material Design: Exposed Dropdown Menu



              IOS - Pickers




              Sidenote, Apple generally doesn't like dropdowns, they take you to a whole other page with selections.




              Microsoft Fluent Design Guidelines




              Not exactly what you are looking for but worth taking a look.




              General Guidelines (from my experience):



              Default Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a default state.
              Examples - A dropdown that allows you to select a font. The default font is always selected.
              Guideline - Provide a placeholder with the default option selected.



              No state Dropdowns: Explanation - A dropdown that has no way of knowing the default state of selection. Examples - A dropdown that is used to select your nationality. Guideline - Use an explanatory placeholder. For the example above, the placeholder would be "Select Nationality" or even "Select" would do.



              Field Specific Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a predefined purpose. Examples - Calendars, Time selectors, Username/ Profile selection. Guideline - Use field specific placeholders. If I am designing a calendar input, then the placeholder will specify the day's date. Time selectors will have a similar placeholder displaying the current time. profile selectors for selecting a single profile from a list of profiles will have the current profile being used as a placeholder (see: facebook).



              Hope this helps ^_^






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Chemicalinck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                up vote
                2
                down vote



                accepted










                I wouldn't say there are guidelines as such, but most design systems provide an insight on how to use dropdowns. Here are a few examples:



                Material Design: Exposed Dropdown Menu



                IOS - Pickers




                Sidenote, Apple generally doesn't like dropdowns, they take you to a whole other page with selections.




                Microsoft Fluent Design Guidelines




                Not exactly what you are looking for but worth taking a look.




                General Guidelines (from my experience):



                Default Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a default state.
                Examples - A dropdown that allows you to select a font. The default font is always selected.
                Guideline - Provide a placeholder with the default option selected.



                No state Dropdowns: Explanation - A dropdown that has no way of knowing the default state of selection. Examples - A dropdown that is used to select your nationality. Guideline - Use an explanatory placeholder. For the example above, the placeholder would be "Select Nationality" or even "Select" would do.



                Field Specific Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a predefined purpose. Examples - Calendars, Time selectors, Username/ Profile selection. Guideline - Use field specific placeholders. If I am designing a calendar input, then the placeholder will specify the day's date. Time selectors will have a similar placeholder displaying the current time. profile selectors for selecting a single profile from a list of profiles will have the current profile being used as a placeholder (see: facebook).



                Hope this helps ^_^






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Chemicalinck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote



                  accepted






                  I wouldn't say there are guidelines as such, but most design systems provide an insight on how to use dropdowns. Here are a few examples:



                  Material Design: Exposed Dropdown Menu



                  IOS - Pickers




                  Sidenote, Apple generally doesn't like dropdowns, they take you to a whole other page with selections.




                  Microsoft Fluent Design Guidelines




                  Not exactly what you are looking for but worth taking a look.




                  General Guidelines (from my experience):



                  Default Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a default state.
                  Examples - A dropdown that allows you to select a font. The default font is always selected.
                  Guideline - Provide a placeholder with the default option selected.



                  No state Dropdowns: Explanation - A dropdown that has no way of knowing the default state of selection. Examples - A dropdown that is used to select your nationality. Guideline - Use an explanatory placeholder. For the example above, the placeholder would be "Select Nationality" or even "Select" would do.



                  Field Specific Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a predefined purpose. Examples - Calendars, Time selectors, Username/ Profile selection. Guideline - Use field specific placeholders. If I am designing a calendar input, then the placeholder will specify the day's date. Time selectors will have a similar placeholder displaying the current time. profile selectors for selecting a single profile from a list of profiles will have the current profile being used as a placeholder (see: facebook).



                  Hope this helps ^_^






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Chemicalinck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  I wouldn't say there are guidelines as such, but most design systems provide an insight on how to use dropdowns. Here are a few examples:



                  Material Design: Exposed Dropdown Menu



                  IOS - Pickers




                  Sidenote, Apple generally doesn't like dropdowns, they take you to a whole other page with selections.




                  Microsoft Fluent Design Guidelines




                  Not exactly what you are looking for but worth taking a look.




                  General Guidelines (from my experience):



                  Default Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a default state.
                  Examples - A dropdown that allows you to select a font. The default font is always selected.
                  Guideline - Provide a placeholder with the default option selected.



                  No state Dropdowns: Explanation - A dropdown that has no way of knowing the default state of selection. Examples - A dropdown that is used to select your nationality. Guideline - Use an explanatory placeholder. For the example above, the placeholder would be "Select Nationality" or even "Select" would do.



                  Field Specific Dropdowns: Explanation - Dropdowns that have a predefined purpose. Examples - Calendars, Time selectors, Username/ Profile selection. Guideline - Use field specific placeholders. If I am designing a calendar input, then the placeholder will specify the day's date. Time selectors will have a similar placeholder displaying the current time. profile selectors for selecting a single profile from a list of profiles will have the current profile being used as a placeholder (see: facebook).



                  Hope this helps ^_^







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Chemicalinck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






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                  answered 1 hour ago









                  Chemicalinck

                  513




                  513




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                  New contributor





                  Chemicalinck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






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                      up vote
                      2
                      down vote













                      There is no "best practice" here, those two options are completely different.



                      Pre-selected - use if you have a reason to believe one of the options is most likely (this can be based on most popular / probable option, or on data you know about the user), or if you want to push the user for that option.



                      Blank - "please choose" - use this, if you don't know or if you need to make sure the user makes a conscious choice.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        There is no "best practice" here, those two options are completely different.



                        Pre-selected - use if you have a reason to believe one of the options is most likely (this can be based on most popular / probable option, or on data you know about the user), or if you want to push the user for that option.



                        Blank - "please choose" - use this, if you don't know or if you need to make sure the user makes a conscious choice.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote









                          There is no "best practice" here, those two options are completely different.



                          Pre-selected - use if you have a reason to believe one of the options is most likely (this can be based on most popular / probable option, or on data you know about the user), or if you want to push the user for that option.



                          Blank - "please choose" - use this, if you don't know or if you need to make sure the user makes a conscious choice.






                          share|improve this answer












                          There is no "best practice" here, those two options are completely different.



                          Pre-selected - use if you have a reason to believe one of the options is most likely (this can be based on most popular / probable option, or on data you know about the user), or if you want to push the user for that option.



                          Blank - "please choose" - use this, if you don't know or if you need to make sure the user makes a conscious choice.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 1 hour ago









                          vsvec

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                          1615




















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