HTMLSelectElement.selectedIndex

The HTMLSelectElement.selectedIndex is a long that reflects the index of the first selected <option> element. The value -1 indicates that no element is selected.

Syntax

var index = selectElem.selectedIndex;
selectElem.selectedIndex = index;

Example

HTML

<p id="p">selectedIndex: 0</p>

<select id="select">
  <option selected>Option A</option>
  <option>Option B</option>
  <option>Option C</option>
  <option>Option D</option>
  <option>Option E</option>
</select>

JavaScript

var selectElem = document.getElementById('select')
var pElem = document.getElementById('p')

// When a new <option> is selected
selectElem.addEventListener('change', function() {
  var index = selectElem.selectedIndex;
  // Add that data to the <p>
  pElem.innerHTML = 'selectedIndex: ' + index;
})

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
WHATWG HTML Living Standard The definition of 'HTMLSelectElement' in that specification.	Living Standard	No change since the latest snapshot, HTML5.
HTML5 The definition of 'HTMLSelectElement' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition, snapshot of WHATWG HTML Living Standard.

Browser compatibility