Select

Features

• Supports multiple selection.
• Supports grouped options.
• Supports options with icons, avatars and descriptions.
• Compatible with our Form control component
• Adheres to our form accessibility guidelines.

When to use

Use a Select when users need to select one or multiple values from a large list of options. For small lists of options, consider using a Radio group or Checkbox group instead.

Examples

Label

The label of a form element should be clear and concise, ideally under three words. It should describe the value of the element and not what the user needs to do in order to fill it out properly.

Required or optional

Mark the minority of form elements in a form as required or optional. This helps users scan the form and understand what is required of them. Type out the word optional or required in the label. E.g. "Per purchase limit (optional)". Don't use asterisks or other symbols.

Hint text

Use hint text to give users clear guidance for data entry. Keep it brief and avoid repeating the label or other form details. If it feels redundant, try removing it. We keep help text above the input field to have the reading order match the visual order, which is needed for screen readers.

Help popover

Use help popovers to aid first-time users or to clarify complex concepts. The help popover can contain interactive content and may be used to provide links for further information.

Error

Provide clear and helpful error messages that guide users toward a solution. Instead of merely stating the problem, ensure the message is specific and actionable. Avoid vague or shaming language.

Disabled

Disable a form element to indicate that it’s currently unavailable. This can be used to maintain layout consistency and communicate that the element may become available later. If the form element will never be available in a given context, leave it out.

Clearable

Use a clearable select when you want to allow users to remove the selected value. This will show a "clear" ("x") button in the input field when a value is selected.

Multi select

Use multi select to allow users to select multiple options from the list. For instance, you might want to allow users to tag an expense with multiple categories.

Prefix icon

A prefix icon can be supplied to provide a visual cue about the type of options available. The icon will be shown when no option is selected, or if the options do not have icons of their own.

Grouped options

Options can be separated into distinct groups (sections) with a label for each group. This is useful if you have options that belong to different categories.

Disabled options

Options can be disabled to prevent users from selecting them. This should be used when the option is not applicable in the current context. If an item is never applicable in a certain context, it should instead be excluded from the list of options.

Option icons

Use option icons to provide visual cues about the type of options available. A common use case is for expense categories where icons can help users quickly identify an expense type.

Option descriptions

Use option descriptions to provide additional helpful details about the options available and/or in cases where the label alone may not be enough for users to distinguish between options.

Option avatars

We support avatars as a way to quickly identify items. By incorporating both a visual cue (e.g. the user's profile picture, or company logo) and textual information (the item label), this variation facilitates a quick and accurate selection of items from a list, enhancing user experience.

Enlarged avatars

Avatars can be enlarged for enhanced visibility. These are meant to be used in combination with a description to provide additional details such as a user's role or department in situations where such information is useful or necessary for distinguishing between options.

Show value on hover

In cases where you many selects and want users to have quick access to the selected value, it can be useful to show the selected value when hovering over the select. When enabled, the full value will be shown after hovering the Select for a few seconds.

Accessibility

The implementation of this component has been informed by our form accessibility guidelines.

Best practices

Refer to our Forms guidelines for general advice on forms structure, validation, and more.

Related components

• Checkbox group: A form element that enables users to select multiple values from a list of options.
• Form control: Form control displays a labelled input and, optionally, associated validation text, help popover, and/or hint text.
• Radio group: A form element that enables users to select a single value from a list of options.