Question

I have a drop down list that reads from the SQL database. depending on the option selected, I want to pull the actual ‘value from the DataValueField. how do I do that?

Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) { ... ddlOption.DataTextField = 'Option'; ddlOptions.DataValueField = 'OptCode'; ... }  protected void ddlOptionSelectionChange(object sender, EventArgs e) { ... string menuOption = '';//NEED ACTUAL VALUE BASED ON OPTION SELECTED IN OPTCODE ... } 

Answer 1

I think ddlOptions.SelectedValue is what you’re looking for.

Please note that if no item is selected (ie. ddlOptions.SelectedIndex == -1), string.Empty is returned.