Get selected Text of HTML Select DropDownList in ASPNet using C and VBNet

In this article I will explain how to get the selected Text of HTML Select DropDownList in ASP.Net Code Behind (Server Side) using C# and VB.Net.

There are two ways we can access the HTML Select DropDownList selected Text in ASP.Net Code Behind (Server Side)

1. Using Request Form collection and name property.

2. Using runat = “server” property.

Note: If you want to know about how to get the selected Text of HTML Select DropDownList in ASP.Net Code Behind (Server Side), please refer my article Get selected value of HTML Select DropDownList in ASP.Net code behind using C# and VB.Net.

Using Request Form collection and name property

The HTML Select DropDownList does not send its selected Text through Request.Form collection and hence we need to make use of Hidden Field and save the selected Text in the Hidden Field using JavaScript whenever the HTML Select DropDownList is changed.

Select Fruit:

<option value="1">Apple</option>

<option value="2">Mango</option>

<option value="3">Orange</option>

</select>

function SetSelectedText(ddlFruits) {

var selectedText = ddlFruits.options[ddlFruits.selectedIndex].innerHTML;

document.getElementById("hfFruitName").value = selectedText;

}

</script>

<asp:Button Text="Submit" runat="server" OnClick="Submit" />

Now inside the Button click event handler, the selected Text of the HTML Select DropDownList is fetched from Request.Form using the Name of the Hidden Field.

protected void Submit(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

string fruitName = Request.Form["FruitName"];

}

VB.Net

Protected Sub Submit(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)

Dim fruitName As String = Request.Form("FruitName")

End Sub

Using runat = “server” property

Following is an HTML Select DropDownList with runat=”server” property.

Select Color:

<option value="Y">Yellow</option>

<option value="O">Orange</option>

</select>

<br />

<asp:Button Text="Submit" runat="server" OnClick="Submit" />

Inside the Button click event handler, the selected Text of the HTML Select DropDownList is fetched from its Items collection using the SelectedIndex property.

protected void Submit(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

string colorName = ddlColors.Items[ddlColors.SelectedIndex].Text;

}

VB.Net

Protected Sub Submit(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)

Dim colorName As String = ddlColors.Items(ddlColors.SelectedIndex).Text

End Sub

Screenshot