Select preselect settings not questions
select-preselect-settings-not-questions
Select: pre-select for settings; do not pre-select for questions (influence). Dual-cite with NN/g always-default-radio (via explicit None) and Polar default-when-possible — not a winner.
Description
On questions, do not silently preselect a guessed answer; if none is valid, include an explicit None. On settings, select the current or safe value so the control reflects reality. The question-versus-settings split matters: silent defaults influence answers on questions but help on settings. Fail if a question silently preselects a guess, a settings control leaves a logical current value unselected, or a global always/never preselect ignores that split. Apply when deciding defaults for selects or radios.
When to use
Deciding defaults for selects or radios on questions versus settings.
Not when
Not for checkboxes that are independently multi-select without a single default.
Agent hint
Leave question answers unselected or use explicit None; pre-select settings’ current value.
Question select/radio: no silent preselected answer; if “none” is valid, an explicit None is in the set. Settings: the current or safe value is selected.
A question silently preselects a guessed answer; or a settings control has a logical current/safe value and leaves it unselected; or a global “always/never preselect” with no question-vs-settings split.
Citations
GOV.UK Design System — Select
https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/select/