Carbon Design System

Select allows users to choose one option from a list of values.

Overview
Live demo
Variants
Formatting
Content
Behaviors
Feedback

Overview

The select component collects user-provided information from a list of options. Selects are usually used in forms where a user submits data and chooses one option from a list.

When to use

Use the select component inside a form where users are selecting from a list of options and submitting data.
When the experience is mostly form-based.

When not to use

It is best practice not to use a select if there are fewer than three options for selection. In this case, use a radio button group instead.

Select versus Dropdown

While the select and dropdown components look similar, they have different functions.

A select presents a list of options from which the users can select only one item from that list. It works best in forms when users choose an option from the select list and submit data.
A dropdown presents a list of options that users can select one or several options from that list. Dropdown options are used for taking an action, filtering, or sorting existing content.

Another important difference between the two components is the underlying code. The select list appearance will be determined by the browser being used, while the dropdown list can be styled as needed.

Example of a select list of options for data submission on the left versus a dropdown list of actional options on the right.

Live demo

Theme selector

CodeSandbox React Angular Vue Web Components

Live editor for the Select component


<Select
  defaultValue="placeholder-item"
  helperText="Optional helper text"
  id="select-1"
  invalidText="A valid value is required"
  labelText="Select"
>
  <SelectItem
    text="Choose an option"
    value="placeholder-item"
  />
  <SelectItemGroup
    label="Category 1"
  >
    <SelectItem
      text="Option 1"
      value="option-1"
    />
    <SelectItem
      text="Option 2"
      value="option-2"
    />
  </SelectItemGroup>
  <SelectItemGroup
    label="Category 2"
  >
    <SelectItem
      text="Option 3"
      value="option-3"
    />
    <SelectItem
      text="Option 4"
      value="option-4"
    />
  </SelectItemGroup>
</Select>

Variants

Variant	Purpose
Default	Typically used in forms with a variety of other components.
Inline select	Used when there are multiple select fields within a form.

Default select

Default selects are used in forms with other components.

Inline select

Inline select is useful when you have multiple select fields within a form. Inline selects have less visual weight on a page because they are borderless.

Formatting

Anatomy

Labels: Text that informs the user what to expect in the list of dropdown options.
Default option: An empty option selected by default. The user can decide whether to choose a different option from the list. Depending on the use case, this defaulted behavior can be modified to be a prefilled selection to the first option in the list, which is typically shown in alphabetical order, or the prefilled selection could be a frequent or commonly used option that is on the list.
Helper text (optional, except for error and warning): Assistive text to help the user choose the right selection. Helper text is shown in a tooltip for fluid styles.
Field: Persists when the dropdown is open or closed.
Option: A choice for the user, shown with other choices in a list.
List: A list of options to choose from, displayed as an open state.
Status icon: Indicates the state of the select, either error or warning.
Error or Warning text: Replaces the helper text when an error or warning state appears.

Styling

There are two styles of select inputs, default and fluid. They share the same functionality but look visually different, influencing where to use them.

Style	Appearance	Use case
Default	A traditional style where the label is positioned outside and above the input field.	Use when white space is needed between input components or in productive moments where space is at a premium, and smaller components are needed.
Fluid	An alternative style where the label is placed inside of the input field and is stacked inline with the user input text.	Use in expressive moments, fluid forms, contained spaces, or attached to complex components, like a toolbar.

Sizing

Default input heights

There are three default select height size for both variants: small, medium, and large. Supporting three different select sizes gives you more flexibility when structuring layouts. However, use a consistent size for all form components on the same page. For example, if you are using a medium size select also use the same size text inputs, buttons, and so on. When in doubt, use the default medium size height.

Default size	Height (px/rem)	Use case
Small (sm)	32 / 2	Use when space is constricted or when placing a select in a form that is long and complex.
Medium (md)	40 / 2.5	This is the default size and the most commonly used size. When in doubt, use the medium size.
Large (lg)	48 / 3	Use when there is a lot of space to work with. The large size is typically used in simple forms or when a select is placed by itself on a page.

Fluid inputs heights

In the fluid select, there is only one input height. The list height is controlled by the browser.

Width

There is no minimum or maximum width for a select. The width can be customized appropriately for its context.

Content

Main elements

Label

Concise labels for text and data inputs help users understand what information is being requested of them.

Labels inform users what to expect in the list of select options.
Labels are not helper text; be succinct. Use one to three words only.

Helper text

Helper text is pertinent information that assists the user in choosing the right selection from the select list.
Helper text is optional but replaced with warning or error text when these states appear.

List order

If applicable, the list should be in alphabetical order or in increasing order relative to the content. Otherwise, the order of the select list should be based on the frequency of use.

Behaviors

States

The select has multiple interactive states for both default and inline variants: enabled, hover, selected, focus, open, error, warning, disabled, skeleton, and read-only.

State	When to use
Enabled	When the select is live and a user is not directly interacting with it. This is commonly referred to as the default or normal state of the component. An enabled select field should contain a default value.
Hover	When a user’s mouse cursor is hovering over the field.
Selected	When a user opens the list and selects an option within the list.
Focus	When a user tabs to or clicks on the select field, the field becomes focused, indicating the user has successfully navigated to the component.
Open	When a user opens the list.
Error	When a select component marked as “required” has not had an option selected. It can also be triggered due to a system error. This state requires a user response before data can be submitted or saved.
Warning	When you need to call the user’s attention to an exception condition. The condition might not be an error but can cause problems if not resolved.
Disabled	When the user cannot interact with a component and all interactive functions have been removed. Unlike read-only states, disabled states are not focusable, are not read by screen readers, and do not need to pass visual contrast, making them inaccessible if they need to be interpreted.
Skeleton	Used on an initial page load to indicate that the select has not yet fully loaded.
Read-only	When the user can review but not modify the component. This state removes all interactive functions like the disabled state but can still be focusable, accessible by screen readers, and passes visual contrast for readability.

Interactions

Mouse

Users can open and close the list by clicking the chevron icon or clicking anywhere within the field. To select an option, the user can click anywhere inside an option list.

Keyboard

The dropdown field is the element that receives focus. All keyboard interactions happen from this element.
Users can open the list by pressing Space, Enter, the Down arrow, or the Up arrow.
Users can move the highlighted option to the next option by pressing the Down arrow.
Users can move the highlighted option to the previous option by pressing the Up arrow.
Users can close the list by pressing Escape, Space, or Enter.

Validation

Invalid

Real-time validation helps to streamline the process of filling out a form. The error state is triggered if the data is invalid or a required field is left empty. The error state has three visual indicators to signify invalid content: a red border, an error icon indicator, and an error message.

If there are fewer than three options to choose from, use a radio button group instead.
If multi-select is necessary, use dropdown instead. Dropdown options are used to take an action, navigating outside of the current context, filtering or sorting existing content.

Feedback

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