# select\_by\_text

## Syntax

```python
Element.select_by_text(text: str) -> Element
```

## Usage

{% code title="correct usage" %}

```python
py.get("#dropdown").select_by_text("Option 1")

---or--- # chain an Element command

py.get("#dropdown").select_by_text("Option 2").get_attribute("value")
```

{% endcode %}

{% code title="incorrect usage" %}

```python
# Errors, can only perform this command on a <select> dropdown element
py.get("ul > li").select_by_text("Option 3")
```

{% endcode %}

## Arguments

* <mark style="color:purple;">`text (str)`</mark> - The **text** of the option to select.

## Yields

* <mark style="color:orange;">**Element**</mark> - The current instance of Element so you can chain commands.

## Examples

Given this HTML

```html
<select id="dropdown">
    <option value="" disabled="disabled" selected="selected">Please select an option</option>
    <option value="1">Option 1</option>
    <option value="2">Option 2</option>
</select>
```

We can select any of the options

```python
dropdown = py.get("dropdown")

# Select the first option that is "disabled"
dropdown.select_by_text("Please select an option")

# Select Option 1
dropdown.select_by_text("Option 1")

# Select Option 2
dropdown.select_by_text("Option 2")
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Give this a try yourself! <https://the-internet.herokuapp.com/dropdown>
{% endhint %}

## See also

* [select\_*by\_*&#x69;ndex](https://docs.pylenium.io/element-commands/actions/select)
* [select\_*by\_*&#x76;alue](https://docs.pylenium.io/element-commands/actions/select_many-1)
* [click()](https://docs.pylenium.io/element-commands/actions/click) - If the dropdown is NOT a \<select> element, <mark style="color:purple;">`.click()`</mark> will work