How to set the 'selected option' of a select dropdown list with jquery

Question

I have the following jquery function: ``` $.post('GetSalesRepfromCustomer', { data: selectedObj.value }, function (result) { alert(result[0]); $('select[name^="salesrep"]').val(result[0]); }); ``` `result[0]` is a value that I want to set as the `selected` item in my select box. `result[0]` equals `Bruce jones`. the select box is populated by a database query but one of the rendered html is: ``` ``` `$('select[name^="salesrep"]').val(result[0]);` doesn't populate the select box selected option. I have also tried `$("#salesrep").val(result[0]);` without any luck. Any help appreciated. so what I want is the selected / highlighted option in the salesrep dropdown list to be Bruce Jones. HTML to be: ```

Accepted Answer

Try this :

```
$('select[name^="salesrep"] option[value="Bruce Jones"]').attr("selected","selected");
```

Just replace `option[value="Bruce Jones"]` by `option[value=result[0]]`

And before selecting a new option, you might want to "unselect" the previous :

```
$('select[name^="salesrep"] option:selected').attr("selected",null);
```

You may want to read this too : jQuery get specific option tag text

Edit: Using jQuery Mobile, this link may provide a good solution : jquery mobile - set select/option values

How to set the 'selected option' of a select dropdown list with jquery

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