AngularJS Select

In AngularJS, you can create a dropdown list (select box) based on items in an array, or an object.

Using ng-options

You should use the ng-option directive to create a dropdown list, based on an object or an array in AngularJS.

See this example:

     <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js" id="44a6dd0f5035a84060da79857ee143c0" type="PenciLazyScript"></script>  
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl"> <select ng-model="selectedName" ng-options="x for x in names"> </select> </div>
<p>     </p>

Test it Now

Note:

You can also use the ng-repeat directive to make the same dropdown list as ng-options.

See this example:

      <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js" id="44a6dd0f5035a84060da79857ee143c0" type="PenciLazyScript"></script>  
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl"> <select><option ng-repeat="x in names">{{x}}</option></select> </div>
<p>The same example of dropdown list using the ng-repeat directive.</p>
<p>    </p>

Test it Now

ng-options vs. ng-repeat

Although, both can be used for dropdown list, but ng-repeat directive repeats a block of HTML code for each item in an array, it can be used to create options in a dropdown list, while the ng-options directive was made especially for filling a dropdown list with options, and has at least one important advantage:

Dropdowns made with ng-options allows the selected value to be an object, while dropdowns made from ng-repeat has to be a string.

Consider that you have an array of objects:

 $scope.cars = [     {model : "Ford Mustang", color : "red"},     {model : "Fiat 500", color : "white"},     {model : "Volvo XC90", color : "black"} ]; 

Limitation of ng-repeat

The ng-repeat directive has a limitation that the selected value must be a string:

See this example:

   <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js" id="44a6dd0f5035a84060da79857ee143c0" type="PenciLazyScript"></script>  
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl">
<p>Select a car:</p>
<p> <select ng-model="selectedCar"><option ng-repeat="x in cars" value="{{x.model}}">{{x.model}}</option></select> </p>
<h1>You selected: {{selectedCar}}</h1>
</div>
<p>     </p>

Test it Now

While using the ng-options directive, you can select an object value:

See this example:

   <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js" id="44a6dd0f5035a84060da79857ee143c0" type="PenciLazyScript"></script>  
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl">
<p>Select a car:</p>
<p> <select ng-model="selectedCar" ng-options="x.model for x in cars"> </select> </p>
<h1>You selected: {{selectedCar.model}}</h1>
<p>It's color is: {{selectedCar.color}}</p>
</div>
<p>     </p>

Test it Now

Use data source as an object

We can also use data source as an object.

Consider that you have an object with following key-value pairs:

 $scope.cars = {         car01 : "Ford",         car02 : "Honda",         car03 : "Volvo",         car03 : "Hundai",     }; 

The expression in the ng-options attribute is a bit different for objects:

See this example:

   <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js" id="44a6dd0f5035a84060da79857ee143c0" type="PenciLazyScript"></script>  
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl">
<p>Select a car:</p>
<p> <select ng-model="selectedCar" ng-options="x for (x, y) in cars"> </select> </p>
<h1>You selected: {{selectedCar}}</h1>
</div>
<p>     </p>

Test it Now

Example2:

The selected value will always be the value in a key-value pair.

The value in a key-value pair can also be an object:

 $scope.cars = { car01 : {brand : "Ford", model : "Mustang", color : "red"}, car02 : {brand : "Honda", model : "city", color : "white"}, car03 : {brand : "Volvo", model : "XC90", color : "black"}, car04 : {brand : "Hundai", model : "Creta", color : "gray"} }; 

See this example:

   <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js" id="44a6dd0f5035a84060da79857ee143c0" type="PenciLazyScript"></script>  
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl">
<p>Select a car:</p>
<p> <select ng-model="selectedCar" ng-options="x for (x, y) in cars"> </select> </p>
<h1>You selected: {{selectedCar.brand}}</h1>
<h2>Model: {{selectedCar.model}}</h2>
<h3>Color: {{selectedCar.color}}</h3>
</div>
<p>     </p>

Test it Now

Next TopicAngularJS DOM

AngularJS Select

AngularJS Select

Using ng-options

ng-options vs. ng-repeat

Limitation of ng-repeat

Use data source as an object

AngularJS AJAX

Cordova App Templates

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