<datalist>: The HTML Data List element

To bind the <datalist> element to the control, we give it a unique identifier in the id attribute, and then add the list attribute to the <input> element with the same identifier as value. Only certain types of <input> support this behavior, and it can also vary from browser to browser.

Each <option> element should have a value attribute, which represents a suggestion to be entered into the input. It can also have a label attribute, or, missing that, some text content, which may be displayed by the browser instead of value (Firefox), or in addition to value (Chrome and Safari, as supplemental text). The exact content of the drop-down menu depends on the browser, but when clicked, content entered into control field will always come from the value attribute.

This element has no other attributes than the global attributes, common to all elements.

When deciding to use the <datalist> element, here are some accessibility issues to be mindful of:

• The font size of the data list's options does not zoom, always remaining the same size. The contents of the autosuggest do not grow or shrink when the rest of the contents are zoomed in or out.
• As targeting the list of options with CSS is very limited to non-existent, rendering can not be styled for high-contrast mode.
• Some screen reader/browser combinations, including NVDA and Firefox, do not announce the contents of the autosuggest popup.

Recommended values in types text, search, url, tel, email and number, are displayed in a drop-down menu when user clicks or double-clicks on the control. Typically the right side of a control will also have an arrow pointing to the presence of predefined values.

<label for="myBrowser">Choose a browser from this list:</label>
<input list="browsers" id="myBrowser" name="myBrowser" />
<datalist id="browsers">
  <option value="Chrome"></option>
  <option value="Firefox"></option>
  <option value="Opera"></option>
  <option value="Safari"></option>
  <option value="Microsoft Edge"></option>
</datalist>

The types month, week, date, time and datetime-local can show an interface that allows a convenient selection of a date and time. Predefined values can be shown there, allowing the user to quickly fill the control value.

<input type="time" list="popularHours" />
<datalist id="popularHours">
  <option value="12:00"></option>
  <option value="13:00"></option>
  <option value="14:00"></option>
</datalist>

The recommended values in the range type will be shown as series of hash marks that the user can easily select.

<label for="tick">Tip amount:</label>
<input type="range" list="tickmarks" min="0" max="100" id="tick" name="tick" />
<datalist id="tickmarks">
  <option value="0"></option>
  <option value="10"></option>
  <option value="20"></option>
  <option value="30"></option>
</datalist>

The color type can show predefined colors in a browser-provided interface.

<label for="colors">Pick a color (preferably a red tone):</label>
<input type="color" list="redColors" id="colors" />
<datalist id="redColors">
  <option value="#800000"></option>
  <option value="#8B0000"></option>
  <option value="#A52A2A"></option>
  <option value="#DC143C"></option>
</datalist>

The specification allows linking <datalist> with a password type, but no browser supports it for security reasons.

<label for="pwd">Enter a password:</label>
<input type="password" list="randomPassword" id="pwd" />
<datalist id="randomPassword">
  <option value="5Mg[_3DnkgSu@!q#"></option>
</datalist>

• The <input> element, and more specifically its list attribute;
• The <option> element.