# Auto-Populate Select Fields

### How Does It Work?

Apply the Geo Select data attribute to a \<select> element, using a value corresponding to the variable name for one of the available categories in the table at the bottom.

### How To Implement

<table><thead><tr><th>Attribute Name</th><th width="268.3333333333333">Attribute Value</th><th>Which Page Element?</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>data-geo-select<mark style="color:red;">*</mark></td><td>category-name</td><td>&#x3C;select></td></tr><tr><td>data-gs-placeholder</td><td>Your Custom Placeholder</td><td>Any element with the <strong>Geo Select</strong> data attribute.</td></tr></tbody></table>

The category name is case-sensitive and must match the respective 'Category Variable'.

The default placeholder option for the \<select> element will be 'Choose an Option'. You can override this by setting the placeholder data attribute noted above.

The Geo Form data attribute does not need to be added to the \<form> element for the Geo Select data attribute to function.

<mark style="color:red;">\*</mark>‎‏‏‎ ‎Attribute names with a red asterisk are required; all others listed in the table are optional.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Developer Tip**: With a little JavaScript, you can dynamically update the options in one \<select> based on what was chosen in another. For example, if someone chooses 'Canada', add Canadian provinces and territories. [View the code snippet](https://developers.getgeoflow.com/geoflow-docs/advanced/code-snippets#populate-list-of-provinces-states-based-on-chosen-country).
{% endhint %}

### Available Categories

| Category Name                      | Category Variable            |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| African Countries                  | af-countries                 |
| All Countries                      | all-countries                |
| Antarctican Countries              | an-countries                 |
| Asian Countries                    | as-countries                 |
| Australian States and Territories  | au-states-and-territories    |
| Canadian Provinces and Territories | ca-provinces-and-territories |
| European Countries                 | eu-countries                 |
| North American Countries           | na-countries                 |
| Oceania Countries                  | oc-countries                 |
| South American Countries           | sa-countries                 |
| United Kingdom Countries           | uk-countries                 |
| American States                    | us-states                    |

### Examples

```html
<!-- This <select> Will Be Populated with North American Countries -->
<select data-geo-select="na-countries" data-gs-placeholder="Choose a Country">
</select>

<!-- This <select> Will Be Populated with American States -->
<select data-geo-select="us-states" data-gs-placeholder="Choose a State">
</select>

<!-- This <select> Will Be Populated with Australian States and Territories -->
<select data-geo-select="au-states-and-territories" data-gs-placeholder="Choose a State or Territory">
</select>
```