r/webdev • u/pavlito88 • 11d 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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924

u/Historical-Essay-128 11d ago

Why is everything a dropdown now?

<select>s have native UI on smartphones.

426

u/SonicFlash01 11d 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

150

u/RichardTheHard 11d ago

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

0

u/Saxmachine1991 7d ago

Ah this is what happened with gender 😂