Updated: March 17, 2021

Which Selection Control Should I Use?

Intro

Selection controls are UI elements that allow the user to pick one or several values or options. Different selection controls are available, which each support dedicated use cases. This article offers guidance on when to use the following selection controls:

Selecting a Single Value or Option

To enable users to select a single value or option, display either a combo box, an input field, or a select control. A value is usually a single data point, while an option contains several values, such as product attributes.

Combo Box

The combo box allows users to select one option from a predefined list. It’s also possible to type in a value or custom value and filter the predefined selection list (if the application allows it).

Combo box with two-column layout and option to enter custom value
Combo box with two-column layout and option to enter custom value

Input Field

The input field allows users to enter and edit text or numeric values in one line. To help the user enter a valid value, you can enable the autocomplete suggestion feature or provide a selection dialog.

The selection dialog opens when the user clicks the input field icon.

Input field
Input field
Input field with a button to open one of the selection dialogs
Input field with a button to open one of the selection dialogs

Select

The select control (also known as a dropdown) is commonly used to select an option from a predefined list.

Select control
Select control

Selecting Multiple Values or Options

The multi-combo box and multi-input field support the selection of multiple single values or options. A value is usually a single data point, while an option contains several values, such as product attributes.

Multi-Combo Box

Use the multi-combo box if users need to select more than one option from a predefined list. The select options in the list have checkboxes that support multi-selection. Users can also type in a value to filter the list (if the application allows it).

Multi-combo box with three selected values
Multi-combo box with three selected values
Focused, opened multi-combo box
Focused, opened multi-combo box

Multi-Input Field

A multi-input field allows users to enter more than one value. These values are displayed as tokens. To help the user enter a valid value, you can enable the suggestions feature or provide a selection dialog.

Multi-input field with three values
Multi-input field with three values
Multi-input field with three values while typing
Multi-input field with three values while typing
Multi-input field with values and the option to open a selection dialog
Multi-input field with values and the option to open a selection dialog

Supporting Selection Dialogs

There are three selection dialogs: the select dialog, the table select dialog, and the value help dialog. These dialogs enable users to pick one or several values or options from a long list. Selection dialogs are useful when users need more than one data point to identify the “right” value, or when they want to search the list to find a particular value.

The selection dialogs are always used in combination with one of the following controls:

  • Input field for selecting one value/option
  • Multi-input field for selecting more than one value/option

Users can open the respective selection dialog from within these controls.

Example

The user wants to pick a certain product. However, because the product names are very similar, it’s difficult to identify the right one. Additional product attributes in the selection dialog, such as an image and the product release date, help the user to pick the correct option.

Select Dialog

The select dialog enables users to select one or more options from a comprehensive list. The select dialog comes with a list of entries containing a few attributes. It also provides a search field to filter the list.

Select dialog with two selected items
Select dialog with two selected items

Table Select Dialog

The table select dialog enables users to select one or more options from a comprehensive table. Usually, the table displays multiple attributes or other related information for an item. Making this additional information available for an entry helps users to identify the correct option.

The table select dialog reuses the responsive table. It also provides a search field to filter the list.

Table select dialog with two selected items
Table select dialog with two selected items

Value Help Dialog

The value help dialog enables users to find and select single and multiple values/options. It also allows users to define conditions and multiple ranges.

Value help dialog on a mobile device
Value help dialog on a mobile device

Best Practices

Depending on the number of entries in the selection list, users might need more information to identify the “right” single value/option or multiple values/options.

Use the criteria in the tables below to choose the most suitable selection control for your use case.


Selecting a Single Value or Option

The user can identify the “right” data point based on… 2-12 entries in the selection list 13-200 entries in the selection list
200-1,000 entries in the selection list
More than 1,000 entries in the selection list
…a single value Select or combo box Combo box
with validator that prohibits custom values
Input field with suggestions and select dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog
two values Select or combo box
with two-column layout
Combo box
with validator that prohibits custom values
Input field with suggestions and select dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog
...3 or 4 values with/without an image Input field with suggestions and select dialog Input field with suggestions and select dialog Input field with suggestions and select dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog
more than 4 values with/without an image Input field with suggestions and table select dialog Input field with suggestions and table select dialog Input field with suggestions and table select dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog
several values and option to narrow selection list down (by defining conditions, selecting ranges) Input field with suggestions and value help dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog Input field with suggestions and value help dialog

Selecting Multiple Values or Options

The user can identify an individual value/option based on… 2-12 entries in the selection list 13-200 entries in the selection list
200- 1,000 entries in the selection list
More than 1,000 entries in the selection list
…a single value Multi-combo box Multi-combo box Multi-input field with suggestions and select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog
two values Multi-combo box
with two-column layout
Multi-combo box
with two-column layout
Multi-input field with suggestions and select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog
3 or 4 values with/without an image Multi-input field with suggestions and select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog
more than 4 values with/without an image Multi-input field with suggestions and table select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and table select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and table select dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog
several values and option to narrow selection list down (by defining conditions, selecting ranges) Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog Multi-input field with suggestions and value help dialog

Resources

Want to dive deeper? Follow the links below to find out more about related controls, the SAPUI5 implementation, and the visual design.

Elements and Controls

Implementation