Version: v7 (beta)

ion-select

Selects are form controls to select an option, or options, from a set of options, similar to a native <select> element. When a user taps the select, a dialog appears with all of the options in a large, easy to select list.

A select should be used with child <ion-select-option> elements. If the child option is not given a value attribute then its text will be used as the value.

If value is set on the <ion-select>, the selected option will be chosen based on that value.

Single Selection

By default, the select allows the user to select only one option. The alert interface presents users with a radio button styled list of options. The select component's value receives the value of the selected option's value.

Interfaces

By default, select uses ion-alert to open up the overlay of options in an alert. The interface can be changed to use ion-action-sheet or ion-popover by passing action-sheet or popover, respectively, to the interface property. Read on to the other sections for the limitations of the different interfaces.

Action Sheet

Multiple Selection

By adding the multiple attribute to select, users are able to select multiple options. When multiple options can be selected, the alert overlay presents users with a checkbox styled list of options. The select component's value receives an array of all of the selected option values.

Note: the action-sheet and popover interfaces will not work with multiple selection.

Responding to Interaction

The main ways of handling user interaction with the select are the ionChange, ionDismiss, and ionCancel events. See Events for more details on these and other events that select fires.

Object Value References

When using objects for select values, it is possible for the identities of these objects to change if they are coming from a server or database, while the selected value's identity remains the same. For example, this can occur when an existing record with the desired object value is loaded into the select, but the newly retrieved select options now have different identities. This will result in the select appearing to have no value at all, even though the original selection in still intact.

By default, the select uses object equality (===) to determine if an option is selected. This can be overridden by providing a property name or a function to the compareWith property.

Using compareWith

Object Values and Multiple Selection

Label Placement

Labels will take up the width of their content by default. Developers can use the labelPlacement property to control how the label is placed relative to the control.

Justification

Developers can use the justify property to control how the label and control are packed on a line.

Filled Selects

Material Design offers filled styles for a select. The fill property on the select can be set to either "solid" or "outline".

Since the fill styles visually defines the select container, selects that use fill should not be used in ion-item.

Select Buttons

The alert supports two buttons: Cancel and OK. Each button's text can be customized using the cancelText and okText properties.

The action-sheet and popover interfaces do not have an OK button, clicking on any of the options will automatically close the overlay and select that value. The popover interface does not have a Cancel button, clicking on the backdrop will close the overlay.

Interface Options

Since select uses the alert, action sheet and popover interfaces, options can be passed to these components through the interfaceOptions property. This can be used to pass a custom header, subheader, css class, and more.

See the ion-alert docs, ion-action-sheet docs, and ion-popover docs for the properties that each interface accepts.

Note: interfaceOptions will not override inputs or buttons with the alert interface.

Customization

There are two units that make up the Select component and each need to be styled separately. The ion-select element is represented on the view by the selected value(s), or placeholder if there is none, and dropdown icon. The interface, which is defined in the Interfaces section above, is the dialog that opens when clicking on the ion-select. The interface contains all of the options defined by adding ion-select-option elements. The following sections will go over the differences between styling these.

Styling Select Element

As mentioned, the ion-select element consists only of the value(s), or placeholder, and icon that is displayed on the view. To customize this, style using a combination of CSS and any of the CSS custom properties.

Alternatively, depending on the browser support needed, CSS shadow parts can be used to style the select. Notice that by using ::part, any CSS property on the element can be targeted.

Styling Select Interface

Customizing the interface dialog should be done by following the Customization section in that interface's documentation:

However, the Select Option does set a class for easier styling and allows for the ability to pass a class to the overlay option, see the Select Options documentation for usage examples of customizing options.

Typeahead Component

Typeahead or autocomplete functionality can be built using existing Ionic components. We recommend using an ion-modal to make the best use of the available screen space.

Interfaces

SelectChangeEventDetail

interface SelectChangeEventDetail<T = any> {
  value: T;
}

SelectCustomEvent

While not required, this interface can be used in place of the CustomEvent interface for stronger typing with Ionic events emitted from this component.

interface SelectCustomEvent<T = any> extends CustomEvent {
  detail: SelectChangeEventDetail<T>;
  target: HTMLIonSelectElement;
}

Migrating from Legacy Select Syntax

A simpler select syntax was introduced in Ionic 7.0. This new syntax reduces the boilerplate required to setup an select, resolves accessibility issues, and improves the developer experience.

Developers can perform this migration one select at a time. While developers can continue using the legacy syntax, we recommend migrating as soon as possible.

Using the Modern Syntax

Using the modern syntax involves two steps:

Remove ion-label and use the label property on ion-select instead. The placement of the label can be configured using the labelPlacement property on ion-select.
Move any usage of fill and shape from ion-item on to ion-select.

JavaScript
Angular
React
Vue

<!-- Label and Label Position -->

<!-- Before -->
<ion-item>
  <ion-label position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</ion-label>
  <ion-select>...</ion-select>
</ion-item>

<!-- After -->
<ion-item>
  <ion-select label="Favorite Fruit:" label-placement="floating">...</ion-select>
</ion-item>


<!-- Fill -->

<!-- Before -->
<ion-item fill="outline" shape="round">
  <ion-label position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</ion-label>
  <ion-select>...</ion-select>
</ion-item>

<!-- After -->

<!-- Inputs using `fill` should not be placed in ion-item -->
<ion-select fill="outline" shape="round" label="Favorite Fruit:" label-placement="floating">...</ion-select>

<!-- Label and Label Position -->

<!-- Before -->
<ion-item>
  <ion-label position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</ion-label>
  <ion-select>...</ion-select>
</ion-item>

<!-- After -->
<ion-item>
  <ion-select label="Favorite Fruit:" labelPlacement="floating">...</ion-select>
</ion-item>


<!-- Fill -->

<!-- Before -->
<ion-item fill="outline" shape="round">
  <ion-label position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</ion-label>
  <ion-select>...</ion-select>
</ion-item>

<!-- After -->

<!-- Inputs using `fill` should not be placed in ion-item -->
<ion-select fill="outline" shape="round" label="Favorite Fruit:" labelPlacement="floating">...</ion-select>

{/* Label and Label Position */}

{/* Before */}
<IonItem>
  <IonLabel position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</IonLabel>
  <IonSelect>...</IonSelect>
</IonItem>

{/* After */}
<IonItem>
  <IonSelect label="Favorite Fruit:" labelPlacement="floating">...</IonSelect>
</IonItem>


{/* Fill */}

{/* Before */}
<IonItem fill="outline" shape="round">
  <IonLabel position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</IonLabel>
  <IonSelect>...</IonSelect>
</IonItem>

{/* After */}

{/* Inputs using `fill` should not be placed in IonItem */}
<IonSelect fill="outline" shape="round" label="Favorite Fruit:" labelPlacement="floating">...</IonSelect>

<!-- Label and Label Position -->

<!-- Before -->
<ion-item>
  <ion-label position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</ion-label>
  <ion-select>...</ion-select>
</ion-item>

<!-- After -->
<ion-item>
  <ion-select label="Favorite Fruit:" label-placement="floating">...</ion-select>
</ion-item>


<!-- Fill -->

<!-- Before -->
<ion-item fill="outline" shape="round">
  <ion-label position="floating">Favorite Fruit:</ion-label>
  <ion-select>...</ion-select>
</ion-item>

<!-- After -->

<!-- Inputs using `fill` should not be placed in ion-item -->
<ion-select fill="outline" shape="round" label="Favorite Fruit:" label-placement="floating">...</ion-select>

Using the Legacy Syntax

Ionic uses heuristics to detect if an app is using the modern select syntax. In some instances, it may be preferable to continue using the legacy syntax. Developers can set the legacy property on ion-select to true to force that instance of the input to use the legacy syntax.

Properties

cancelText

Description	The text to display on the cancel button.
Attribute	`cancel-text`
Type	`string`
Default	`'Cancel'`

compareWith

Description	A property name or function used to compare object values
Attribute	`compare-with`
Type	`((currentValue: any, compareValue: any) => boolean) ｜ null ｜ string ｜ undefined`
Default	`undefined`

disabled

Description	If `true`, the user cannot interact with the select.
Attribute	`disabled`
Type	`boolean`
Default	`false`

interface

Description	The interface the select should use: `action-sheet`, `popover` or `alert`.
Attribute	`interface`
Type	`"action-sheet" ｜ "alert" ｜ "popover"`
Default	`'alert'`

interfaceOptions

Description	Any additional options that the `alert`, `action-sheet` or `popover` interface can take. See the ion-alert docs, the ion-action-sheet docs and the ion-popover docs for the create options for each interface. Note: `interfaceOptions` will not override `inputs` or `buttons` with the `alert` interface.
Attribute	`interface-options`
Type	`any`
Default	`{}`

mode

Description	The mode determines which platform styles to use.
Attribute	`mode`
Type	`"ios" ｜ "md"`
Default	`undefined`

multiple

Description	If `true`, the select can accept multiple values.
Attribute	`multiple`
Type	`boolean`
Default	`false`

name

Description	The name of the control, which is submitted with the form data.
Attribute	`name`
Type	`string`
Default	`this.inputId`

okText

Description	The text to display on the ok button.
Attribute	`ok-text`
Type	`string`
Default	`'OK'`

placeholder

Description	The text to display when the select is empty.
Attribute	`placeholder`
Type	`string ｜ undefined`
Default	`undefined`

selectedText

Description	The text to display instead of the selected option's value.
Attribute	`selected-text`
Type	`null ｜ string ｜ undefined`
Default	`undefined`

value

Description	the value of the select.
Attribute	`value`
Type	`any`
Default	`undefined`

Events

Name	Description
`ionBlur`	Emitted when the select loses focus.
`ionCancel`	Emitted when the selection is cancelled.
`ionChange`	Emitted when the value has changed.
`ionDismiss`	Emitted when the overlay is dismissed.
`ionFocus`	Emitted when the select has focus.

Methods

open

Description	Open the select overlay. The overlay is either an alert, action sheet, or popover, depending on the `interface` property on the `ion-select`.
Signature	`open(event?: UIEvent) => Promise<any>`

CSS Shadow Parts

Name	Description
`icon`	The select icon container.
`placeholder`	The text displayed in the select when there is no value.
`text`	The displayed value of the select.

CSS Custom Properties

Name	Description
`--padding-bottom`	Bottom padding of the select
`--padding-end`	Right padding if direction is left-to-right, and left padding if direction is right-to-left of the select
`--padding-start`	Left padding if direction is left-to-right, and right padding if direction is right-to-left of the select
`--padding-top`	Top padding of the select
`--placeholder-color`	Color of the select placeholder text
`--placeholder-opacity`	Opacity of the select placeholder text

Slots

No slots available for this component.

Single Selection​

Interfaces​

Action Sheet​

Popover​

Multiple Selection​

Responding to Interaction​

Object Value References​

Using compareWith​

Object Values and Multiple Selection​

Label Placement​

Justification​

Filled Selects​

Select Buttons​

Interface Options​

Customization​

Styling Select Element​

Styling Select Interface​

Typeahead Component​

Interfaces​

SelectChangeEventDetail​

SelectCustomEvent​

Migrating from Legacy Select Syntax​

Using the Modern Syntax​

Using the Legacy Syntax​

Properties​

cancelText​

compareWith​

disabled​

interface​

interfaceOptions​

mode​

multiple​

name​

okText​

placeholder​

selectedText​

value​

Events​

Methods​

open​

CSS Shadow Parts​

CSS Custom Properties​

Slots​

Contents

Single Selection

Interfaces

Action Sheet

Popover

Multiple Selection

Responding to Interaction

Object Value References

Using compareWith

Object Values and Multiple Selection

Label Placement

Justification

Filled Selects

Select Buttons

Interface Options

Customization

Styling Select Element

Styling Select Interface

Typeahead Component

Interfaces

SelectChangeEventDetail

SelectCustomEvent

Migrating from Legacy Select Syntax

Using the Modern Syntax

Using the Legacy Syntax

Properties

cancelText

compareWith

disabled

interface

interfaceOptions

mode

multiple

name

okText

placeholder

selectedText

value

Events

Methods

open

CSS Shadow Parts

CSS Custom Properties

Slots