How to create a loop for this dropdown menu?

Question

And, would a loop be more efficient then listing them out one by one?

<select name="birthdayYear" >
    <option value="0000"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '0000' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>Year:</option>
    <option value="2011"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2011' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2011</option>
    <option value="2010"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2010' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2010</option>
    <option value="2009"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2009' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2009</option>
    <option value="2008"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2008' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2008</option>
    <option value="2007"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2007' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2007</option>
    <option value="2006"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2006' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2006</option>
    <option value="2005"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2005' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2005</option>
    <option value="2004"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2004' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2004</option>
    <option value="2003"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2003' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2003</option>
    <option value="2002"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2002' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2002</option>
    <option value="2001"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2001' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2001</option>
    <option value="2000"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '2000' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>2000</option>
    <option value="1999"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1999' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1999</option>
    <option value="1998"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1998' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1998</option>
    <option value="1997"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1997' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1997</option>
    <option value="1996"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1996' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1996</option>
    <option value="1995"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1995' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1995</option>
    <option value="1994"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1994' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1994</option>
    <option value="1993"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1993' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1993</option>
    <option value="1992"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1992' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1992</option>
    <option value="1991"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1991' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1991</option>
    <option value="1990"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1990' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1990</option>
    <option value="1989"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1989' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1989</option>
    <option value="1988"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1988' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1988</option>
    <option value="1987"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1987' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1987</option>
    <option value="1986"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1986' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1986</option>
    <option value="1985"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1985' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1985</option>
    <option value="1984"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1984' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1984</option>
    <option value="1983"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1983' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1983</option>
    <option value="1982"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1982' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1982</option>
    <option value="1981"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1981' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1981</option>
    <option value="1980"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1980' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1980</option>
    <option value="1979"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1979' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1979</option>
    <option value="1978"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1978' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1978</option>
    <option value="1977"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1977' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1977</option>
    <option value="1976"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1976' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1976</option>
    <option value="1975"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1975' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1975</option>
    <option value="1974"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1974' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1974</option>
    <option value="1973"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1973' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1973</option>
    <option value="1972"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1972' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1972</option>
    <option value="1971"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1971' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1971</option>
    <option value="1970"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1970' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1970</option>
    <option value="1969"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1969' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1969</option>
    <option value="1968"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1968' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1968</option>
    <option value="1967"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1967' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1967</option>
    <option value="1966"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1966' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1966</option>
    <option value="1965"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1965' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1965</option>
    <option value="1964"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1964' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1964</option>
    <option value="1963"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1963' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1963</option>
    <option value="1962"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1962' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1962</option>
    <option value="1961"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1961' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1961</option>
    <option value="1960"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1960' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1960</option>
    <option value="1959"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1959' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1959</option>
    <option value="1958"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1958' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1958</option>
    <option value="1957"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1957' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1957</option>
    <option value="1956"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1956' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1956</option>
    <option value="1955"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1955' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1955</option>
    <option value="1954"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1954' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1954</option>
    <option value="1953"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1953' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1953</option>
    <option value="1952"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1952' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1952</option>
    <option value="1951"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1951' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1951</option>
    <option value="1950"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1950' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1950</option>
    <option value="1949"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1949' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1949</option>
    <option value="1948"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1948' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1948</option>
    <option value="1947"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1947' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1947</option>
    <option value="1946"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1946' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1946</option>
    <option value="1945"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1945' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1945</option>
    <option value="1944"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1944' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1944</option>
    <option value="1943"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1943' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1943</option>
    <option value="1942"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1942' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1942</option>
    <option value="1941"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1941' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1941</option>
    <option value="1940"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1940' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1940</option>
    <option value="1939"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1939' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1939</option>
    <option value="1938"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1938' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1938</option>
    <option value="1937"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1937' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1937</option>
    <option value="1936"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1936' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1936</option>
    <option value="1935"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1935' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1935</option>
    <option value="1934"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1934' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1934</option>
    <option value="1933"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1933' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1933</option>
    <option value="1932"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1932' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1932</option>
    <option value="1931"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1931' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1931</option>
    <option value="1930"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1930' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1930</option>
    <option value="1929"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1929' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1929</option>
    <option value="1928"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1928' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1928</option>
    <option value="1927"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1927' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1927</option>
    <option value="1926"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1926' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1926</option>
    <option value="1925"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1925' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1925</option>
    <option value="1924"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1924' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1924</option>
    <option value="1923"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1923' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1923</option>
    <option value="1922"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1922' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1922</option>
    <option value="1921"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1921' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1921</option>
    <option value="1920"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1920' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1920</option>
    <option value="1919"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1919' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1919</option>
    <option value="1918"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1918' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1918</option>
    <option value="1917"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1917' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1917</option>
    <option value="1916"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1916' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1916</option>
    <option value="1915"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1915' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1915</option>
    <option value="1914"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1914' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1914</option>
    <option value="1913"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1913' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1913</option>
    <option value="1912"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1912' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1912</option>
    <option value="1911"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1911' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1911</option>
    <option value="1910"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1910' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1910</option>
    <option value="1909"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1909' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1909</option>
    <option value="1908"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1908' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1908</option>
    <option value="1907"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1907' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1907</option>
    <option value="1906"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1906' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1906</option>
    <option value="1905"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1905' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1905</option>
    <option value="1904"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1904' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1904</option>
    <option value="1903"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1903' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1903</option>
    <option value="1902"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1902' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1902</option>
    <option value="1901"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1901' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1901</option>
    <option value="1900"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '1900' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>1900</option>
</select>

Answer 1

Basically, you will :

• Deal with the 0000 specific line yourself,
• and then, have a for() loop from 2011 to 1900

The loop could look a bit like this :

for ($year=2011 ; $year>=1900 ; $year--) {
    echo '<option value="' . $year . '"';
    if ($year == $birthdayYear) {
        echo 'selected="selected"';
    }
    echo '>' . $year . '</option>' . PHP_EOL;
}

Of course, the 2011 year should probably not be hard-coded -- take a look at date() for a possible way of getting the current year.

Answer 2

First, output the '0000' option. It does not follow the pattern, so it should not be included in the loop:

<option value="0000"<?php echo $birthdayYear == '0000' ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>Year:</option>

Next, create a loop and output each of the parts of the option. I started with date('Y') (the current year) rather than the hard-coded '2011' so your script will not need to be updated every year.

for ( $i = date('Y'); $i >= 1900; $i-- ) {
    echo "<option value=\"$i\"";
    echo $birthdayYear == $i ? 'selected="selected"' : '';
    echo ">$i</option>";
}

The three echo statements could be combined into one. I placed them on separate lines for clarity.

Answer 3

Personally, I would not loop this. I would place it in a separate PHP file and include it onto your page. This way to does not take up space everywhere it needs to be, and you can easily modify the data from just one file, which will update across your application.

Answer 4

Try this:

<select name="birthdayYear" >
<?php
if($year == '0000') {
    echo '<option value="0000" selected="selected">0000</option>';
} else {
    echo '<option value="0000">0000</option>';
}
for($year = intval(date('Y')); $year > 1900; $year --) {
    if($year == $birthdayYear) {
        echo '<option value="'.$year.'" selected="selected">'.$year.'</option>';
    } else {
        echo '<option value="'.$year.'">'.$year.'</option>';
    }
}
?>
</select>

Answer 5

Loop, please. It's not so much a matter of code efficiency (which, at this level, hardly matters at all), but very much one of developer efficiency: A loop is much easier on the eye, it doesn't force the reader to scroll or fold, and it reduces the potential for a typo to introduce subtle bugs (with a loop, they're either all wrong or all correct).

Honestly, any such dropdown with more than two entries in such a regular pattern makes me twitch and reach for the for keyword. A hundred of them is bordering on embarrassment.

Answer 6

If it's not more efficient, it's certainly more readable and reusable, which is far more important.

<select name="birthdayYear" >
    <option value="0000">Year:</option>
    <?php
        for(var $x = year(); $x >= 1900; $x--) {
            var $selected = "";
            if($x == $birthdayYear) {
                $selected = " selected = 'selected'";
            }
            echo("<option value="$x"$selected>$x</option>");
        }
    ?>
</select>

In short, my hair is a bird.