Drop-down form: what's the name of this part?

[myrrh]

When a select list in a form shows by default an instruction such as "Select" or "Month" (in the drop-down list itself, not text above the drop-down box), what is that called?

For example, if I have a drop-down list of the months of the year and I want the list to display the word "Month" by default (and not be a submitted value), what is that function called?

[swa66]

<select> and <option> are the tags you seek

Ref: [w3.org...] sections 4.10.9 and 4.10.12

[myrrh]

Thanks for your reply.

I was concerned that my question was not clear. Your reference led me to what I believe is my answer and I would like confirmation that I'm correct.

I was not seeking how to do it but what the name of that item is.

Is it called a "placeholder" or is it called a "placeholder label option?"

[lucy24]

Are you asking what it's called in ordinary conversation or what you call it in the HTML code?

In HTML4 the dropdown item that's pre-selected, if any, gets an extra attribute selected = "selected" (equivalent to checked = checked when it's a checkbox).

It sounds as if you're in HTML 5 which adds the "placeholder label option" along with "defaultSelected". The difference depends on whether your user is allowed to stay with the default or has to pick something else.

A "placeholder" alone is essentially the same in 4 and 5 except that in 4 it didn't have a special name. It goes in text-input fields-- which may have different names in HTML 5-- to say things like "Smith, John" or "Explain your problem here".