Selenium · Browser automation foundations

How do you select options in a dropdown?

EasyselectdropdownsformsUpdated Oct 2026

Short answer

Wrap a native select element in the Select class and use selectByVisibleText, selectByValue or selectByIndex. For custom div-based dropdowns, click the trigger and then click the option like any other element.

The Select class only works with an actual select element. Many modern applications build dropdowns from divs and ARIA roles, so the same class will throw UnexpectedTagNameException. Inspect the DOM before choosing an approach.

java

Select country = new Select(driver.findElement(By.id("country")));
country.selectByVisibleText("India");
country.selectByValue("in");
country.selectByIndex(0);

Assert.assertEquals(country.getFirstSelectedOption().getText(), "India");

Select toppings = new Select(driver.findElement(By.id("toppings")));
toppings.selectByVisibleText("Cheese");
toppings.selectByVisibleText("Olives");
toppings.deselectByVisibleText("Cheese");

Select exposes both selection and inspection methods.

selectByVisibleText matches the rendered option text
selectByValue matches the value attribute, not the label
selectByIndex is zero-based and breaks if option order changes
isMultiple reports whether the select allows multiple selections
getOptions returns all options for assertions or dynamic selection
Custom dropdowns need a click on the trigger, a wait for the listbox, then a click on the option

For a custom dropdown, assert the selected state through the accessible value or visible label, not through a CSS class that the design system may rename. If the widget opens a listbox in a portal, the options may be outside the dropdown container.

Do not use keyboard navigation for a native select unless you are specifically testing keyboard accessibility. Select is simpler and less brittle.

Follow-ups you should expect

Interviewers use these to check whether the first answer was understanding or memorisation.

1What happens if you use Select on a div-based dropdown?
2When would selectByIndex be a bad choice?
3How do you handle a multi-select?
4How do you test a custom ARIA combobox?

Say it in the interview

For a native select I use the Select class and prefer visible text or value over index, because index breaks when options reorder. For a custom div-based dropdown, Select does not apply; I click the trigger, wait for the listbox and click the option. I assert the visible selected value or accessible state rather than an internal CSS class. I only use keyboard navigation when accessibility behaviour is what the test is covering.

Use this as a model, not a script. Saying it in your own words is what makes it survive follow-up pressure.

Now say it out loud.

Understanding an answer and delivering it under pressure are different skills. Rehearse this topic in a live Selenium mock interview and get scored feedback on depth, clarity and confidence.

Start a free Selenium interview Browse all questions

Follow-ups you should expect

Related questions

Now say it out loud.