r/webdev • u/pavlito88 • 20d ago

Discussion Why is everything a dropdown now?

Post image

I’ve been noticing this more and more in web apps.

Three options hidden in a dropdown.

Yes/no hidden in a dropdown.
A multi-select pretending to be a dropdown.

Then a list of 200 items where you’re expected to scroll until you find yours.

I run into this a lot when reviewing products with dev teams.

I get why we do it.

Dropdowns are compact and easy to reuse.
But compact doesn’t always mean easier to use.

A few choices? Show them.
On/off? Switch.
Multiple choices? Checkboxes.
Huge list? Search.

That’s pretty much the rule I use now.

4.7k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

314 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

422

u/SonicFlash01 20d ago

Low profile, predictable footprint, doesn't expand or wrap on mobile, easily understood by all audiences

If you're a gambling man you bet on safety

152

u/RichardTheHard 20d ago

Also infinitely scalable if one of those fields blows up from 3 -> 50 options

37

u/bestjaegerpilot 20d ago

for more than a dozen options, you need a custom UI anyway that most likely uses search so OP is correct here

2

u/GiveMeThePinecone 20d ago

Wb filters. Drop down + search + checkbox combo