options_for_select(container, selected = nil) public

Accepts a container (hash, array, enumerable, your type) and returns a string of option tags. Given a container where the elements respond to first and last (such as a two-element array), the "lasts" serve as option values and the "firsts" as option text. Hashes are turned into this form automatically, so the keys become "firsts" and values become lasts. If selected is specified, the matching "last" or element will get the selected option-tag. selected may also be an array of values to be selected when using a multiple select.

Examples (call, result): 

  options_for_select([["Dollar", "$"], ["Kroner", "DKK"]])
    <option value="$">Dollar</option>\n<option value="DKK">Kroner</option>

  options_for_select([ "VISA", "MasterCard" ], "MasterCard")
    <option>VISA</option>\n<option selected="selected">MasterCard</option>

  options_for_select({ "Basic" => "$20", "Plus" => "$40" }, "$40")
    <option value="$20">Basic</option>\n<option value="$40" selected="selected">Plus</option>

  options_for_select([ "VISA", "MasterCard", "Discover" ], ["VISA", "Discover"])
    <option selected="selected">VISA</option>\n<option>MasterCard</option>\n<option selected="selected">Discover</option>

NOTE: Only the option tags are returned, you have to wrap this call in a regular HTML select tag.

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April 6, 2009
5 thanks

HTML entities in options

Unfortunately everything is escaped with ERB::Util#html_escape. Your only option is either manually construct options or compeletely overwrite this method.

December 8, 2010 - (>= v3.0.0)
4 thanks

helpers using options for select

You can now add html options to select options by creating a container with items like the following:

Code Example

['display','value',:class => 'option_class']

This will produce:

Code Example

<option value="value" class="option_class">display</option>