How to set a default value for DropDownList in asp.net

asp.net example - dropdownlist default value

The following asp.net c# example code demonstrate us how can we set an item as DropDownList default selected item (default value).

DropDownList server control's ListItem object has a property named 'Selected'. This property accept a Boolean value. If we set this property value to 'True' then DropDownList will display the specified ListItem object as initially selected in web browser. We can set this 'Selected' property value both declarative way and programmatic way in c# script area. We can set only one item's 'Selected' property value to 'True' at a time because DropDownList control allow only an item as selected item.

dropdownlist-default-value.aspx


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true"%>  
    
<!DOCTYPE html>
      
<script runat="server">
    protected void DropDownList1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Label1.Text = "you selected....<br />";
        Label1.Text += "item: " + DropDownList1.SelectedItem.Text;
        Label1.Text += "<br />value: " + DropDownList1.SelectedItem.Value;
    }
</script>      
      
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">      
<head id="Head1" runat="server">      
    <title>asp.net dropdownlist default value</title>
</head>      
<body>      
    <form id="form1" runat="server">      
    <div>      
        <h2 style="color:MidnightBlue; font-style:italic;">      
            asp.net example - dropdownlist default value
        </h2>      
        <hr width="550" align="left" color="Gainsboro" />      
        <asp:Label       
            ID="Label1"       
            runat="server"      
            Text="select an item from dropdownlist."
            Font-Size="X-Large"
            Width="350"
            >      
        </asp:Label>      
        <br /><br />
        <asp:DropDownList
            ID="DropDownList1"
            runat="server"
            AutoPostBack="true"
            OnSelectedIndexChanged="DropDownList1_SelectedIndexChanged"
            >
            <asp:ListItem Text="Tundra Swan" Value="1"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Egyptian Goose" Value="2"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Selected="True" Text="African Pygmy Goose" Value="3"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Common Shelduck" Value="4"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Muscovy Duck" Value="5"></asp:ListItem>
        </asp:DropDownList>
    </div>      
    </form>      
</body>      
</html>

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