> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.powerfulform.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.powerfulform.com/field-types/selects/dropdown.md). # Dropdown Add a single-select dropdown so visitors pick one answer from a tidy list. The **Dropdown** field shows a closed list that opens when the visitor clicks it, and accepts one answer. Use it when the list is long enough that radio buttons would take over the page — a *How did you hear about us?* question, a list of service types, or the branch a customer wants to collect from. ## 🔧 How to Set It In the form editor, click **Add element** > pick **Dropdown**. The field is added and its settings open on the left.

See [Add and arrange elements](/build-your-form/add-and-arrange-elements.md) for the other ways to add a field and how to reorder them. ## 🔧 Settings Only the settings specific to this field are listed here. **Label**, **Placeholder**, **Description**, **Required**, **Hide label**, **Column width**, **Conditional display** and the rest of the shared settings work the same on every field.

Setting	What it does	Default
Options	The list of choices.	Option 1, Option 2
Select default value	Which choice is already selected when the form loads. The list also carries a Please select entry, which leaves the field empty.	Please select
Enable search	Adds a search box inside the open dropdown so the visitor can type to filter.	off

### 📝 Options The list of choices. Each one has * a **Label** (what's shown to the visitor) and * a **Value** (what's saved in the submission). Click **Bulk add Option** to paste many choices at once, > **⚠️ Note:** Only the **Label** can be translated for other languages. The **Value** stays the same across all language. ### 🔤 Select Default Value Which choice is already selected when the form loads. The list also includes **Please select**, which leaves the field empty. **Example:** *"Service type"* leaves this on **Please select**, so the visitor has to make a real choice rather than accidentally submitting a default.

### 🔍 Enable Search Adds a search box inside the open dropdown, so the visitor can type to filter instead of scrolling. **Example:** *"Which branch will you collect from?"* turns this on for a list of 40+ locations — much faster than scrolling on a phone. > **💡 Tip:** Turn this on once a list runs past a dozen or so entries.

## 🔄 How It Works **What's saved:** A dropdown stores the chosen option's **Value**, not its **Label**. If you never touched the Value column, they're the same text — but if you set them separately, it's the Value that shows up in **Submissions**, notification emails, exports, and any connected integration. **What the visitor sees:** The field shows as a closed box with the current selection (or **Please select**). Clicking it opens the full list — with a search box at the top if **Enable search** is on.

## 🔁 Compare

Use	When
Dropdown	One answer, a long list, keep the form compact
Radio buttons	One answer, a short list, show every choice at once
Checkboxes	The visitor may pick more than one
Button	One or more answers shown as large tappable buttons
Image Dropdown	A dropdown where each entry carries a thumbnail

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## Next steps * [Radio buttons](/field-types/selects/radio-buttons.md) — the same question with every option on show. * [Show or hide fields with conditional logic](/build-your-form/conditional-logic.md) — react to the option a visitor picks.