Setting hidden datalist option values

Question

In the snippet below, I have two methods to choose an item: input with datalist and traditional select with options.

The select element keeps the option values hidden, and we're still able to get it with this.value. However, with the datalist, the value is actually displayed and the text content of the option is displayed as a secondary label.

What I'd like is to have the input+datalist approach behave like a traditional select, where "Foo" and "Bar" are shown as options that when selected have values of "1" and "2" respectively.

I've also added a repeated name "Foo" with value "3". This is to show that any solution must not depend on unique options.

Answer 1

You can use data-value and jquery to make your value hidden.

e.g:

$(document).ready(function() {

    $('#submit').click(function()
    {
        var value = $('#selected').val();
        alert($('#browsers [value="' + value + '"]').data('value'));
    });
});

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>

<input id="selected" list="browsers" name="browser">
<datalist id="browsers">
    <option data-value="1" value="InternetExplorer"></option>
    <option data-value="2" value="Firefox"></option>
    <option data-value="3" value="Chrome"></option>

</datalist>
<input id="submit" type="submit">

jsfiddle

Thanks to @guest271314