What is the HTML <option> tag ?
HTML <option> element is used to define an item contained in a <select>, an <optgroup>, or a <datalist> element.
HTML <option> tag defines an option in a select list.
HTML <option> tag is used to choose an option from a Drop-Down menu.
How HTML <option> tag works ?
HTML <option> can represent menu items in popups and other lists of items in an HTML document.
HTML <option> tag is mostly used within a form for defining options in the drop-down list.
HTML dropdown list must have at least one <option> element.
HTML <option> tag can be used without any attributes, but you usually <option> tag needs the “value” attribute.
The “value” attribute indicates the values to be sent to the server on form submission.
Why is HTML <option> tag used ?
HTML <option> tag defines the options in a dropdown list within <select> or <datalist> element.
Group of options can also be created using <optgroup> Tag which is used to create a group of related menu items.
Mostly HTML <option> tag is used in the HTML form submission.
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Syntax :
<option> Options... </option>
Example :
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>HTML Option Tag</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>CSTechbook</h1>
<h2>HTML option Tag</h2>
<select>
<!-- option tag starts -->
<option>Choose an option</option>
<option value="cricket">Cricket</option>
<option value="tennis">Tennis</option>
<option value="hockey">Hockey</option>
<option value="boxing">Boxing</option>
<option value="music">Music</option>
<option value="gardening">Gardening</option>
<option value="cooking">Cooking</option>
<!-- option tag ends -->
</select>
</body>
</html>
Output :

<option> Tag Attributes
HTML <option>
tag support following specific attributes.
Sno | Attributes | Value | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | disabled | disabled | Specify that this option will be prevent to selectable. |
2 | label | text | Specify the name of the option. |
3 | selected | selected | Specify that this option will be default pre-selected when it loads. |
4 | value | text | Specifies the value of the option. |
Global Attributes
HTML <option>
tag support following global attributes.
Sno | Attributes | Value | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | id | unique_name | Declared unique id for an element. |
2 | class | class_name | Declared one or more classnames for an element. |
3 | style | styles | CSS inline styles specify an element. |
4 | title | title | Specify extra details of element contain, this will display as a “tooltip” for an elements. |
Event Attributes
HTML <option>
tag support following event attributes.
Sno | Attributes | Value | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | onfocus | script | element gets focus on object when script tobe run. |
2 | onblur | script | element lose the focus on object when scrip tobe run. |
3 | onabort | script | element gets aborted on object when script tobe run. |
4 | onchange | script | element gets anytime change on object when script tobe run. |
5 | onbeforeunload | script | element gets unloaded on object when scrip tobe run. |
6 | onclick | script | clicked on object when script tobe run. |
7 | ondblclick | script | double click on object when script tobe run. |
8 | onkeydown | script | key is pressed when script tobe run. |
9 | onkeypress | script | key is pressed over element then released when script tobe run. |
10 | onkeyup | script | key is released over element when script tobe run. |
11 | onmousedown | script | mouse button was pressed over an element when script tobe run. |
12 | onmouseout | script | mouse pointer release over an element when script tobe run. |
13 | onmousemove | script | run mouse pointer moved when script tobe run. |
14 | onmouseover | script | run mouse pointer move over when script tobe run. |
15 | onmouseup | script | mouse button is released when script tobe run. |
16 | onreset | script | form has been reset when script tobe run. |
17 | onselect | script | Select some content when script tobe run. |
18 | onsubmit | script | form has been submitted when script tobe run. |
19 | onload | script | object has load when script tobe run. |
20 | onchange | script | allow to change the object when script tobe run. |
21 | onunload | script | unload to the browser window when script tobe run. |
22 | ondrag | script | element being dragged when script tobe run. |
23 | ondragend | script | element being stop dragged when script tobe run. |
24 | ondragenter | script | element being go target dragged when script tobe run. |
25 | ondragleave | script | element being leave to target dragged when script tobe run. |
26 | ondragover | script | element being over to target dragged when script tobe run. |
27 | ondragstart | script | element being start dragged when script tobe run. |
28 | ondrop | script | element being dropped when script tobe run. |
29 | onerror | script | element error occurs when script tobe run. |
30 | onmessage | script | element message display when script tobe run. |
31 | onerror | script | element error occurs when script tobe run. |
32 | onmousewheel | script | mouse wheel will be rotate when script tobe run. |
33 | onscroll | script | scrollbar is scroll when script tobe run. |
34 | onresize | script | element should be resize when script tobe run. |
35 | onselect | script | all element content selected when script tobe run. |
36 | onstorage | script | element should be store in target when script tobe run. |
Browser Compatibility
Sno | Browser | Support |
1 | Chrome | Yes |
2 | Firefox | Yes |
3 | Edge | Yes |
4 | Opera | Yes |
5 | Safari | Yes |
6 | Internet Explorer | Yes |