In previous asp.net server control post we had discussed about MultiView Control and ListBox Control and FileUpload Control and CheckBox Control and RadioButton Control and Adrotator Control and TextBox Control.

ASP.Net DropDownlList Control

The DropDownList control is asp.net web server control. we can use dropdownlist control for hold group of items.

The dropdownlist control is used to store the multiple items and allow user to select only one item from it.

The dropdownlist control is also known as combo box control. In dropdownlist control we can store multiple items but we can select only one item at a time, that’s why it is also known as Single Row Selection Box.

In asp.net there are main two control to store multiple items with it, the dropdownlist and the listbox control.

Learn about listbox control to click here…

There is only SelectionMode difference between dropdownlist control and listbox control. The dropdownlist has no SelectionMode, so we can not selection multiple item in dropdownlist.

DropDownList Control Example in ASP.Net C#

Here, we understand the dropdownlist control with an asp.net example.

Create a new web application in asp.net with a web forms. below screen shows how to take dropdownlist control on web page from toolbox.

How to use DropDownList control in ASP.Net c#.

Now, for add new items in dropdownlist go to the Items property shows like below asp.net figure.

How to use DropDownList control in ASP.Net c#.

In dropdownlist control all the elements are known as items of dropdownlist, and each items consist with text and value attributes.

If we add items in to dropdwonlist control we must provide Text and Value for each items.

Text = Text Property specify the Text display in the dropdownlist.

Value = The value property is invisible value, but we can get the value while programming.

How to use DropDownList control in ASP.Net c#.

Here is the html code of dropdownlist control with five items.

How to use DropDownList control in ASP.Net C#.

There are other some important properties of dropdownlist:

DropDownList1.SelectedIndex = Returns the Index of selected item of dropdownlist. (Index always start from Zero).

DropDownList1.Items.Count

Below example show the total number of item count in dropdownlist control.

C#

protected void btncount_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { Label1.Text = "The Count = "+DropDownList1.Items.Count.ToString(); }

1 2 3 4

protected void btncount_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {     Label1.Text = "The Count = "+DropDownList1.Items.Count.ToString(); }

How to get total number of items count in dropdownlist in asp.net

DropDownlList1.SelectedItem.Text

Example : How to get selected item from dropdownlist control in asp.net.

C#

protected void btnselectedtext_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { Label1.Text = "Text = "+DropDownList1.SelectedItem.Text; }

1 2 3 4

protected void btnselectedtext_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {     Label1.Text = "Text = "+DropDownList1.SelectedItem.Text; }

Get SelectedItem from dropdownlist control in asp.net C#

DropDownList1.SelectedValue

Example : How to get Selected Value from dropdownlist control in asp.net.

C#

protected void btnselectedvalue_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { Label1.Text = "Value = " +DropDownList1.SelectedValue; }

1 2 3 4

protected void btnselectedvalue_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {     Label1.Text = "Value = " +DropDownList1.SelectedValue; }

Get SelectedValue from dropdownlist control in asp.net C#.

DropDownList1.SelectedIndex

Example: Get Selected Index in dropdownlist control in asp.net.

C#

protected void btnselectedIndex_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { Label1.Text = "Index = " +DropDownList1.SelectedIndex.ToString(); }

1 2 3 4

protected void btnselectedIndex_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)   {     Label1.Text = "Index = " +DropDownList1.SelectedIndex.ToString();   }

SelectedIndex in dropdownlist control in asp.net C#

DropDownList1.Items.Clear()

Example : Clear all items in dropdownlist control.

C#

protected void btnclear_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { DropDownList1.Items.Clear(); Label1.Text = "ListBox Cleared"; }

1 2 3 4 5

protected void btnclear_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)   {      DropDownList1.Items.Clear();      Label1.Text = "ListBox Cleared";   }

How to use clear() in dropdownlist control in asp.net C#.

DropDownList1.Items.Add(“text”);

Example : Add new item in dropdownlist control.

C#

protected void btnadd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { DropDownList1.Items.Add("Meera"); Label1.Text = "Item Added"; }

1 2 3 4 5

protected void btnadd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {      DropDownList1.Items.Add("Meera");      Label1.Text = "Item Added"; }

How to add new item in dropdownlist control in asp.net C#.

DropDownList1.Items.Remove(“text”)

Example : Remove items from dropdownlist control.

C#

protected void btnremove_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { DropDownList1.Items.Remove("Meera"); Label1.Text = "Item Removed"; }

1 2 3 4 5

protected void btnremove_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {      DropDownList1.Items.Remove("Meera");      Label1.Text = "Item Removed"; }

How to Remove item from dropdownlist control in asp.net C#.

DropDownList1.Items.Insert(int index, “text”);

Example : Add new item at specific location in dropdownlist control. The index is the indicate the location of newly added item in dropdownlist control.

C#

protected void btnadd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { DropDownList1.Items.Insert(2,"Meera"); Label1.Text = "Item Inserted"; }

1 2 3 4 5

protected void btnadd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {      DropDownList1.Items.Insert(2,"Meera");      Label1.Text = "Item Inserted"; }

 

DropDownList1.Items.RemoveAt(int index)

Example : Remove items from dropdownlist control at specify the index location. The index start from zero.

C#

protected void btnremove_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { DropDownList1.Items.RemoveAt(2); Label1.Text = "Item Removed"; }

1 2 3 4 5

protected void btnremove_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {      DropDownList1.Items.RemoveAt(2);      Label1.Text = "Item Removed"; }

The C# code behind code for all buttons click events.