How to check if an item is selected from an HTML drop down list?

Question

I have a drop drown list and I am having trouble checking whether or not a value has been selected from the drop down list

Below is my HTML Code :

<label class="paylabel" for="cardtype">Card Type:</label> <select id="cardtype" name="cards">     <option value="selectcard">--- Please select ---</option>     <option value="mastercard">Mastercard</option>     <option value="maestro">Maestro</option>     <option value="solo">Solo (UK only)</option>     <option value="visaelectron">Visa Electron</option>     <option value="visadebit">Visa Debit</option> </select><br/> 

Below is my JavaScript Code :

var card = document.getElementByName("cards")[0].value; if (card.value == selectcard) {     alert("Please select a card type"); } 

Answer 1

Well you missed quotation mark around your string selectcard it should be "selectcard"

if (card.value == selectcard) 

should be

if (card.value == "selectcard") 

Here is complete code for that

function validate() {  var ddl = document.getElementById("cardtype");  var selectedValue = ddl.options[ddl.selectedIndex].value;     if (selectedValue == "selectcard")    {     alert("Please select a card type");    } } 

JS Fiddle Demo