How do I make a placeholder for a 'select' box?

HTML’s <select> element doesn’t support a placeholder attribute the way <input> does. Instead, you can simulate a placeholder by including a default, disabled <option> that prompts the user to make a selection:

<select>
  <option value="" disabled selected hidden>Select an option</option>
  <option value="1">Option 1</option>
  <option value="2">Option 2</option>
</select>

How It Works

1. value="": Gives the placeholder option an empty value, distinguishing it from valid selections.
2. disabled: Prevents this option from being chosen once the user expands the dropdown.
3. selected: Displays this option by default when the dropdown loads.
4. hidden: Optionally hides the placeholder in the dropdown list (some browsers may not strictly enforce this, so test across different browsers).

Best Practices

• Include a meaningful prompt (e.g., “Please select...”) so users clearly understand they need to pick a real option.
• Ensure you handle the empty or placeholder value on the server side (or in client-side validation) to ensure the user has made a valid choice.

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