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HTML datalist Tag

Reading time 1 min
Published Mar 19, 2019
Updated Oct 1, 2019

HTML datalist: Main Tips

  • The HTML <datalist> element generates a drop-down menu with predefined options for users to select.
  • This element sets the options for the <input> element.
  • The <datalist> adds the HTML autocomplete feature to the form.

Use of datalist

The <datalist> tag specifies an HTML autocomplete feature to be used with a form element. An alternative element is <select>.

Example
<input list="books">
<datalist id="books">
  <option value="Fiction">
  <option value="Non-Fiction">
</datalist>

However, the discussion of <datalist> vs <select> should mention that the <select> requires users to choose from the indicated options. The <datalist> allows users to either choose from the specified answers, or to type in their original ones.

Browser support

Browser image
Chrome
20+
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Edge
All
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Firefox
4+
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IE
10+
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Opera
9.5+
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Safari
12.1+

Mobile browser support

Chrome
33+
Firefox
4+
Opera
-
Safari
12.2+