Question

<select id="itemDepartment">

  <option value="1">Computer Accessories</option>
  <option value="2">Laptop</option>

</select>

the following attribute set the default value in drop down list

selected="selected"

but I want to select the default value other than options value i.e Please Select Department , when I click on the drop down list then Please Select Department text disappear and options value appear ( as default behavior)

Answer 1

<select id="itemDepartment">
    <option class="placeHolder" value=""> Please Select Department </option>  
    <option value="1">Computer Accessories</option>
    <option value="2">Laptop</option>
</select>​​​​​

$('#itemDepartment').focus(function() {
    $(this).find(".placeHolder").hide();
}).blur(function() {
    $(this).find(".placeHolder").show();
});​

Live DEMO