How to Pass Selected Value of Html.DropDownList to Controller in ASP.NET MVC

Learn how to effectively pass the selected value from a static Html.DropDownList to your controller in ASP.NET MVC. Follow our step-by-step guide for seamless integration.
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How to Pass Selected Value of Html.DropDownList to Controller in ASP.NET MVC

In web applications, form elements like drop-down lists play a crucial role in user interaction. They allow users to select from a predefined list of options, making data entry easier and more structured. But how do you capture these selections in your ASP.NET MVC application? In this guide, we will explore how to effectively pass the selected value from a static Html.DropDownList to your controller method. Let's dive into the details!

Understanding the Problem

When working with a drop-down list in your view, you may want to pass the user's selection to your controller for processing. In our case, we have a drop-down list named RelationshipWithFather, which contains two static options: "son" and "daughter." The goal is to capture the selected value from the drop-down and assign it to the relationshipWithPatient attribute of the model class when the form is submitted.

Here’s a summarized version of the set up so far:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Solution: Using DropDownListFor

The most efficient way to pass the selected value from a drop-down list to the controller is by using the DropDownListFor helper. This method binds the selected value directly to your model, simplifying data transfer when the form is submitted.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Define Your Model: Ensure that your model contains a property for the selected drop-down value. In this case, our property is relationshipWithPatient in the PatientInfo model.

Set Up DropDownListFor: Use the DropDownListFor helper in your view. Here is how you can configure it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Handle Form Submission in the Controller: In your controller, you can now access the selected value through the model parameter passed to your action method. Here’s an example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Alternate Implementation

If you prefer using a raw HTML <select> element, you can do so with the tag helper in ASP.NET Core as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered how to pass the selected value from an Html.DropDownList to a controller action method in ASP.NET MVC. We explored the use of DropDownListFor, which directly binds your view model's property to the drop-down list. By following these simple steps, you can handle user input efficiently and streamline your data processing in MVC applications. Feel free to refer back to this guide whenever you're working with forms and drop-downs in your projects!

If you have any questions or would like to share your experiences, please leave a comment below!