Populate dropdown select with array using jQuery

Question

I am trying to populate a dropdown select with an array using jQuery.

Here is my code:

 // Add the list of numbers to the drop down here
 var numbers[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
 $.each(numbers, function(val, text) {
 $('#items').append(
 $('<option></option>').val(val).html(text)
 ); 
 // END

But I'm getting an error. The each function is something I am got off this website.

Is it bombing out because I'm using a one-dimensional array? I want both the option and the text to be the same.

• Fabiano Soriani: Appending items one at a time on the DOM is considered to be very slow and is highly not advised. Way more performatic is to build a string and append it after the loop

Answer 1

Try for loops:

var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
for (var i=0;i<numbers.length;i++){
 $('<option/>').val(numbers[i]).html(numbers[i]).appendTo('#items');
}

---

Much better approach:

var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
var option = '';
for (var i=0;i<numbers.length;i++){
 option += '<option value="'+ numbers[i] + '">' + numbers[i] + '</option>';
}
$('#items').append(option);

• webwake: If the array you are dealing with are not numbers or not from a safe source you should use the 1st technique listed except using .text(number[i]) instead of .html(number[i]). This will ensure you don't risk any injection exploits.

Answer 2

The array declaration has incorrect syntax. Try the following, instead:

var numbers = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The loop part seems right

$.each(numbers, function(val, text) {
 $('#items').append( $('<option></option>').val(val).html(text) )
 }); // there was also a ) missing here

As @Reigel did seems to add a bit more performance (it is not noticeable on such small arrays)

• RSM: This is the best option if you have predefined keys

Answer 3

You can also do this:

var list = $('#items')[0]; // HTMLSelectElement
$.each(numbers, function(index, text) { 
 list.options[list.options.length] = new Option(index, text);
}); 

Answer 4

var qty = 5;
var option = '';
for (var i=1;i <= qty;i++){
 option += '<option value="'+ i + '">' + i + '</option>';
}
$('#items').append(option);

Answer 5

A solution is to create your own jquery plugin that take the json map and populate the select with it.

(function($) { 
 $.fn.fillValues = function(options) {
 var settings = $.extend({
 datas : null, 
 complete : null,
 }, options);
 this.each( function(){
 var datas = settings.datas;
 if(datas !=null) {
 $(this).empty();
 for(var key in datas){
 $(this).append('<option value="'+key+'"+>'+datas[key]+'</option>');
 }
 }
 if($.isFunction(settings.complete)){
 settings.complete.call(this);
 }
 });
 }
}(jQuery));

You can call it by doing this :

$("#select").fillValues({datas:your_map,});

The advantages is that anywhere you will face the same problem you just call

 $("....").fillValues({datas:your_map,});

Et voila !

You can add functions in your plugin as you like

Answer 6

Since I cannot add this as a comment, I will leave it here for anyone who finds backticks to be easier to read. Its basically @Reigel answer but with backticks

var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
var option = ``;
for (var i=0;i<numbers.length;i++){
 option += `<option value=${numbers[i]}>${numbers[i]}</option>`;
}
$('#items').append(option);

Answer 7

The solution I used was to create a javascript function that uses jquery:

This will populate a dropdown object on the HTML page. Please let me know where this can be optimized - but works fine as is.

function util_PopulateDropDownListAndSelect(sourceListObject, sourceListTextFieldName, targetDropDownName, valueToSelect)
{
 var options = '';
 // Create the list of HTML Options
 for (i = 0; i < sourceListObject.List.length; i++)
 {
 options += "<option value='" + sourceListObject.List[i][sourceListTextFieldName] + "'>" + sourceListObject.List[i][sourceListTextFieldName] + "</option>\r\n";
 }
 // Assign the options to the HTML Select container
 $('select#' + targetDropDownName)[0].innerHTML = options;
 // Set the option to be Selected
 $('#' + targetDropDownName).val(valueToSelect);
 // Refresh the HTML Select so it displays the Selected option
 $('#' + targetDropDownName).selectmenu('refresh')
}
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>