In this article I will explain with an example, how to enable (activate) a TextBox when Other option is selected in DropDownList (HTML SELECT) using JavaScript and jQuery.
 
 
Enable (Activate) TextBox when Other option selected in DropDownList using JavaScript
The HTML Markup consists of a DropDownList (HTML SELECT) and a TextBox. The DropDownList (HTML SELECT) has been assigned a JavaScript OnChange event handler.
When an item (option) is selected in DropDownList (HTML SELECT), the EnableDisableTextBox JavaScript function is executed.
Inside this function, based on whether the Other option (item) is selected, the TextBox will be enabled else disabled.
<script type="text/javascript">
    function EnableDisableTextBox(ddlModels) {
        var selectedValue = ddlModels.options[ddlModels.selectedIndex].value;
        var txtOther = document.getElementById("txtOther");
        txtOther.disabled = selectedValue == 5 ? false : true;
        if (!txtOther.disabled) {
            txtOther.focus();
        }
    }
</script>
<span>Your favorite Bike model?</span>
<select id = "ddlModels" onchange = "EnableDisableTextBox(this)">
    <option value = "1">Harley Davidson</option>
    <option value = "2">Dukati</option>
    <option value = "3">BMW</option>
    <option value = "4">Suzuki</option>
    <option value = "5">Other</option>
</select>
<br />
<br />
Other:
<input type="text" id="txtOther" disabled="disabled" />
 
 
Enable (Activate) TextBox when Other option selected in DropDownList using jQuery
The HTML Markup consists of a DropDownList (HTML SELECT) and a TextBox. The DropDownList (HTML SELECT) has been assigned a jQuery Change event handler.
When an item (option) is selected in DropDownList (HTML SELECT), based on whether the Other option (item) is selected, the TextBox will be enabled else disabled.
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
    $(function () {
        $("#ddlModels").change(function () {
            if ($(this).val() == 5) {
                $("#txtOther").removeAttr("disabled");
                $("#txtOther").focus();
            } else {
                $("#txtOther").attr("disabled", "disabled");
            }
        });
    });
</script>
<span>Your favorite Bike model?</span>
<select id="ddlModels">
    <option value="1">Harley Davidson</option>
    <option value="2">Dukati</option>
    <option value="3">BMW</option>
    <option value="4">Suzuki</option>
    <option value="5">Other</option>
</select>
<br />
<br />
Other:
<input type="text" id="txtOther" disabled="disabled" />
 
 
Screenshot
Enable (Activate) TextBox when Other option selected in DropDownList using JavaScript and jQuery
 
 
Browser Compatibility

The above code has been tested in the following browsers.

Internet Explorer  FireFox  Chrome  Safari  Opera 

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