What is a Dropdown Menu in a Website?

Dropdown menus, which let users choose an item from a list of options, are a frequent element of many websites and applications. When a user clicks on a button or text field, a dropdown menu, sometimes referred to as a drop-down list or a choose box, displays a list of options. The word “dropdown” refers to the box that displays the list of options when a button or field is pressed.

In user input fields and other places where there are multiple choices, dropdown menus are frequently employed. For instance, a website that sells clothing might feature a dropdown menu where users can select an item’s size and color. In navigation menus, the user can choose a category or subcategory to explore by using dropdown menus.

Depending on the situation and goal of the dropdown menu, the number of entries can change. In order to prevent confusing the user, it is often advisable to limit the amount of options. Seven is the maximum that the human brain can comfortably process at one time, therefore it’s a good rule of thumb to keep the number of possibilities to a minimum.

The action of the menu descending from the button or field when it is clicked is referred to as “dropping down” in this context. When a user clicks a button or fills out a field, the menu initially remains concealed but then slides down to display the list of choices.

Excel’s data validation tool enables you to make dropdown menus with specified alternatives. Selecting the cell or cells where the dropdown list should appear is the first step in applying data validation to construct a dropdown list. Then, choose Data Validation from the Data tab in the Excel ribbon. Select List from the Allow dropdown menu in the Data Validation dialog box, and then input the selections you wish to show up in the dropdown list in the Source field. After you close the dialog box by clicking OK, the dropdown list will show up in the cell(s) you’ve chosen.

In Excel, a dropdown list is considered dynamic if it changes depending on the value of another cell. If you have a list of products and a list of prices, for instance, you might make a drop-down list of products that varies depending on the user’s chosen price range. Using named ranges and the INDIRECT function, you may make a dynamic drop-down menu in Excel. The values in the dropdown list should match the named ranges. The dropdown list should then be made using data validation, with the Source field referencing the named range. The dropdown list will automatically update whenever the value in the relevant cell changes.