jQuery get the name of a select option

Question

I have a dropdown list with several option, each option has a name attribute. When I select an option, a different list of checkboxes needs to appear - when another options is selected, that checkbox list should disappear and another one be displayed.

I have created these checkbox lists and given them an ID that correlates to the name attribute of the option selected. I am trying to use the following code to display the correct checkbox list

$(document).ready(function(){

       $('#band_type_choices').on('change', function() {         
    $('.checkboxlist').hide();
    $('#checkboxlist_' + $(this).attr("name") ).css("display", "block");

});

However nothing is happening.

Here is my dropdown options:

<select id="band_type_choices">
    <option vlaue="0"></option>
    <option value="100" name="acoustic">Acoustic</option>
    <option value="0" name="jazz">Jazz/Easy Listening</option>
    <option value="0" name="acoustic_jazz">Acoustic + Jazz/Easy Listening</option>
    <option value="0" name="party">Party</option>
    <option value="0" name="acoustic_party">Acoustic + Party</option>
    <option value="0" name="jazz_party">Jazz/Easy Listening + Party</option>
    <option value="0" name="acoustic_jazz_party">Acoustic + Jazz/Easy Listening + Party</option>
 </select>

and an example of one of the lists:

<div class="checkboxlist" id="checkboxlist_acoustic" style="display:none;">
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox keys" name="keys" value="100" />Keys<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox acou_guit" name="acou_guit" value="100" />Acoustic Guitar<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox drums" name="drums" value="100" />Drums<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox alt_sax" name="alt_sax" value="100" />Alto Sax<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox ten_sax" name="ten_sax" value="100" />Tenor Sax<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox clarinet" name="clarinet" value="100" />Clarinet<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox trombone" name="trombone" value="100" />Trombone<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox trumpet" name="trumpet" value="100" />Trumpet<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox flute" name="flute" value="100" />Flute<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox cello" name="cello" value="100" />Cello<br>
<input type="checkbox" class="checkbox violin" name="violin" value="100" />Violin<br>
</div>

Answer 1

Firstly name isn't a valid attribute of an option element. Instead you could use a data parameter, like this:

<option value="foo" data-name="bar">Foo Bar</option>

The main issue you have is that the JS is looking at the name attribute of the select element, not the chosen option. Try this:

$('#band_type_choices').on('change', function() {         
    $('.checkboxlist').hide();
    $('#checkboxlist_' + $('option:selected', this).data("name")).css("display", "block");
});

Note the option:selected selector within the context of the select which raised the change event.

Answer 2

In your codethis refers to the select element not to the selected option

to refer the selected option you can do this -

$(this).find('option:selected').attr("name");

Answer 3

 $(this).attr("name") 

means the name of the select tag not option name.

To get option name

 $("#band_type_choices option:selected").attr('name');

Answer 4

For anyone who comes across this late, like me.

As others have stated, name isn't a valid attribute of an option element. Combining the accepted answer above with the answer from this other question, you get:

$(this).find('option:selected').text();

Answer 5

Using name on a select option is not valid.

Other have suggested the data- attribute, an alternative is a lookup table

Here the "this" refers to the select so no need to "find" the option

var names = ["", "acoustic", "jazz", "acoustic_jazz", "party", "acoustic_party", "jazz_party", "acoustic_jazz_party"];

$(function() {
  $('#band_type_choices').on('change', function() {
    $('.checkboxlist').hide();
    var idx = this.selectedIndex;
    if (idx > 0) $('#checkboxlist_' + names[idx]).show();
  });
});

.checkboxlist { display:none }

Choose acoustic to see the corresponding div

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<select id="band_type_choices">
  <option vlaue="0"></option>
  <option value="100" name="acoustic">Acoustic</option>
  <option value="0" name="jazz">Jazz/Easy Listening</option>
  <option value="0" name="acoustic_jazz">Acoustic + Jazz/Easy Listening</option>
  <option value="0" name="party">Party</option>
  <option value="0" name="acoustic_party">Acoustic + Party</option>
  <option value="0" name="jazz_party">Jazz/Easy Listening + Party</option>
  <option value="0" name="acoustic_jazz_party">Acoustic + Jazz/Easy Listening + Party</option>
</select>
<div class="checkboxlist" id="checkboxlist_acoustic">
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox keys" name="keys" value="100" />Keys<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox acou_guit" name="acou_guit" value="100" />Acoustic Guitar<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox drums" name="drums" value="100" />Drums<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox alt_sax" name="alt_sax" value="100" />Alto Sax<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox ten_sax" name="ten_sax" value="100" />Tenor Sax<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox clarinet" name="clarinet" value="100" />Clarinet<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox trombone" name="trombone" value="100" />Trombone<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox trumpet" name="trumpet" value="100" />Trumpet<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox flute" name="flute" value="100" />Flute<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox cello" name="cello" value="100" />Cello<br>
  <input type="checkbox" class="checkbox violin" name="violin" value="100" />Violin<br>
</div>

Answer 6

The Code is very Simple, Lets Put This Code

var name = $("#band_type_choices  option:selected").text();

Here You don't want to use $(this).find().text(), directly you can put your id name and add option:selected along with text().

This will return the result option name. Better Try this...