Can I apply the required attribute to <select> fields in HTML5?

Question

How can I check if a user has selected something from a <select> field in HTML5?

I see <select> doesn't support the new required attribute... do I have to use JavaScript then? Or is there something I’m missing? :/

Answer 1

Mandatory: Have the first value empty - required works on empty values

Prerequisites: correct html5 DOCTYPE and a named input field

<select name="somename" required>
<option value="">Please select</option>
<option value="one">One</option>
</select>

As per the documentation (the listing and bold is mine)

The required attribute is a boolean attribute.
When specified, the user will be required to select a value before submitting the form.

If a select element

• has a required attribute specified,
• does not have a multiple attribute specified,
• and has a display size of 1 (do not have SIZE=2 or more - omit it if not needed);
• and if the value of the first option element in the select element's list of options (if any) is the empty string (i.e. present as value=""),
• and that option element's parent node is the select element (and not an optgroup element),

then that option is the select element's placeholder label option.