Avoid select except long lists
avoid-select-except-long-lists
Avoid select except long lists — selects hide content, are inconsistent across devices, and are hard for low digital literacy. Small lists (e.g. Australian state/territory) → radios / checkboxes / text. Long lists (e.g. country) may trade usability for compactness. Dual-cite GOV.UK / USWDS / NSW cutoffs; no house number.
Description
Avoid select except for long lists — selects hide content, vary across devices, and hurt low digital literacy. Short lists (for example Australian state/territory) should use radios, checkboxes, or text; long lists (for example country) may trade usability for compactness. Dual-cite GOV.UK / USWDS / NSW cutoffs without collapsing them into a house N. Pass when short lists avoid select and select is reserved for long lists; fail when a short list is a select or a numeric cutoff is invented as GOLD.
When to use
Choosing controls for short versus long option lists.
Not when
Inventing a house numeric cutoff claimed as GOLD.
Agent hint
Use radios/checkboxes/text for short lists; select only for long lists.
Short lists use radios/checkboxes/text; select is reserved for long lists (e.g. country). Dual-cite cutoff schools are not collapsed into a house N.
A short list (e.g. state/territory) is a select; or a house numeric cutoff is invented as GOLD.
Citations