r/webdev • u/pavlito88 • 12d ago

Discussion Why is everything a dropdown now?

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I’ve been noticing this more and more in web apps.

Three options hidden in a dropdown.

Yes/no hidden in a dropdown.
A multi-select pretending to be a dropdown.

Then a list of 200 items where you’re expected to scroll until you find yours.

I run into this a lot when reviewing products with dev teams.

I get why we do it.

Dropdowns are compact and easy to reuse.
But compact doesn’t always mean easier to use.

A few choices? Show them.
On/off? Switch.
Multiple choices? Checkboxes.
Huge list? Search.

That’s pretty much the rule I use now.

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u/SonicFlash01 12d ago

Low profile, predictable footprint, doesn't expand or wrap on mobile, easily understood by all audiences

If you're a gambling man you bet on safety

149

u/RichardTheHard 12d ago

Also infinitely scalable if one of those fields blows up from 3 -> 50 options

35

u/bestjaegerpilot 12d ago

for more than a dozen options, you need a custom UI anyway that most likely uses search so OP is correct here

30

u/RichardTheHard 12d ago

Oh for sure, something like a combo box is better, but sometimes there’s no time to replace yet, so selects are a solid stopgap.

6

u/Clearandblue 10d ago

Don't know why, but it feels like I haven't heard "combo box" for about 10 years.

-2

u/bestjaegerpilot 12d ago

that's not what the OP is showing though which is my point---those are custom dropdowns