set the first value in Dropdown list as default value in php

Question

How to set the first value that comes in the dropdown list as the default value in php? The first value should be by default selected when i open my page

Answer 1

This can be achievable using selected attribute of selectbox:

<select name="youselectbox">
<option value="1" selected>Option 1</option>
<option value="2">Option 2</option>
<option value="3">Option 3</option>

</select>

Edit :

Give your selectbox a id say "selectme"

<select name="youselectbox" id="selectme">

Then on load use this jQuery :

$(document).ready(function()
{

    $("#selectme").prop("selectedIndex", 0); // here 0 means select first option

});

For more information SEE and FIDDLE DEMO

Answer 2

With selected attribute within the option tag, you set the selected default value of your drop-down.

<select>
  <option value="volvo"  selected>Volvo</option> # default selected option
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
  <option value="vw">VW</option>
  <option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select> 

EDIT :

For Dynamic Drop-down menu: PHP Code as below

$("#target option:first").attr('selected','selected');

When setting attr selected doesn't work if there's already a selected attribute. The code I use now will first unset the selected attribute, then select the first option.

$('#target').removeAttr('selected').find('option:first').attr('selected', 'selected');