Is there an onSelect event or equivalent for HTML ?

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I have an input form that lets me select from multiple options, and do something when the user changes the selection. Eg,

<select onChange="javascript:doSomething();">
  <option>A</option>
  <option>B</option>
  <option>C</option>
</select>

Now, doSomething() only gets triggered when the selection changes.

I want to trigger doSomething() when the user selects any option, possibly the same one again.

I have tried using an “onClick” handler, but that gets triggered before the user starts the selection process.

So, is there a way to trigger a function on every select by the user?

Update:

The answer suggested by Darryl seemed to work, but it doesn’t work consistently. Sometimes the event gets triggered as soon as user clicks the drop-down menu, even before the user has finished the selection process!

34 Answers
34

Here is the simplest way:

<select name="ab" onchange="if (this.selectedIndex) doSomething();">
    <option value="-1">--</option>
    <option value="1">option 1</option> 
    <option value="2">option 2</option>
    <option value="3">option 3</option>
</select>

Works both with mouse selection and keyboard Up/Down keys whes select is focused.

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