bootstrap-select vs chosen-js vs select2
Enhanced Select Boxes
bootstrap-selectchosen-jsselect2Similar Packages:

Enhanced Select Boxes

Enhanced select box libraries provide improved user interfaces for standard HTML select elements, allowing for better usability and aesthetics. They enable features like searching, multi-select, and customizable styles, making it easier for users to interact with forms that contain select inputs. These libraries enhance the default select element, which can often be limited in functionality and appearance, by providing additional features and a more modern look and feel. Each library has its own unique set of features and design philosophies, catering to different use cases and developer preferences.

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bootstrap-select09,817-3196 years agoMIT
chosen-js021,939-3098 years agoMIT
select2025,904837 kB1373 months agoMIT

Feature Comparison: bootstrap-select vs chosen-js vs select2

User Experience

  • bootstrap-select:

    bootstrap-select enhances the user experience by providing a familiar Bootstrap-styled interface, complete with dropdowns and buttons that match the overall design of Bootstrap applications. It supports features like live search and multi-select, making it easy for users to find and select options quickly.

  • chosen-js:

    chosen-js focuses on improving the usability of select elements by adding a search box and multi-select capabilities. It simplifies the selection process, especially for long lists, and provides a clean, minimalist design that integrates well with various UI frameworks.

  • select2:

    select2 offers a rich user experience with features like AJAX loading, tagging, and placeholder support. It allows users to search through large datasets efficiently and provides a highly customizable interface, making it suitable for complex applications.

Customization

  • bootstrap-select:

    bootstrap-select allows for extensive customization options, including custom styles and themes that align with Bootstrap's design. Developers can easily modify the appearance of select elements using Bootstrap classes and custom CSS, ensuring consistency across the application.

  • chosen-js:

    chosen-js provides basic customization options, allowing developers to change the appearance of the select box through CSS. However, it is less flexible compared to bootstrap-select and select2 in terms of advanced styling options.

  • select2:

    select2 is highly customizable, offering various options for theming and styling. Developers can create unique designs by overriding default styles and can also utilize templates for options and results, providing a tailored experience for users.

Performance

  • bootstrap-select:

    bootstrap-select performs well with moderate datasets, but may experience slowdowns with very large lists due to the lack of virtual scrolling. It is optimized for Bootstrap environments, ensuring that it remains lightweight and efficient when integrated properly.

  • chosen-js:

    chosen-js is lightweight and performs efficiently with small to medium datasets. However, it may struggle with very large lists, as it does not support virtual scrolling, which can lead to performance issues as the number of options increases.

  • select2:

    select2 is designed to handle large datasets efficiently, offering features like AJAX loading and virtual scrolling. This makes it suitable for applications that require dynamic data fetching and can significantly improve performance when dealing with extensive option lists.

Integration

  • bootstrap-select:

    bootstrap-select integrates seamlessly with Bootstrap, making it a natural choice for projects already using this framework. It leverages Bootstrap's grid system and components, ensuring a cohesive look and feel throughout the application.

  • chosen-js:

    chosen-js can be easily integrated into any project, regardless of the framework being used. It does not depend on any specific CSS framework, allowing for flexibility in design and implementation.

  • select2:

    select2 is versatile and can be integrated into various frameworks and libraries. It provides support for multiple data sources, including local and remote data, making it a robust choice for applications requiring dynamic content.

Learning Curve

  • bootstrap-select:

    bootstrap-select has a gentle learning curve, especially for developers familiar with Bootstrap. Its API is straightforward, and documentation is comprehensive, making it easy to implement and customize.

  • chosen-js:

    chosen-js is simple to set up and use, with a minimal learning curve. Its straightforward API allows developers to quickly enhance select elements without extensive configuration.

  • select2:

    select2 has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features and customization options. While it offers powerful capabilities, developers may need to invest more time in understanding its API and configuration options.

How to Choose: bootstrap-select vs chosen-js vs select2

  • bootstrap-select:

    Choose bootstrap-select if you are already using Bootstrap in your project and want a seamless integration with Bootstrap's styling and components. It offers a simple way to enhance select elements while maintaining Bootstrap's design principles.

  • chosen-js:

    Select chosen-js if you require a lightweight solution with a focus on usability and accessibility. It provides a straightforward way to enhance select boxes with search functionality and multi-select options, making it ideal for simpler projects.

  • select2:

    Opt for select2 if you need advanced features like AJAX support, tagging, and a highly customizable interface. It is suitable for complex applications where you need to handle large datasets or require extensive customization.

README for bootstrap-select

bootstrap-select

The jQuery plugin that brings select elements into the 21st century with intuitive multiselection, searching, and much more. Now with Bootstrap 4 support.

Latest release npm NuGet CDNJS jsDelivr
License peerDependencies Status devDependency Status

bootstrap-select demo

Demo

You can view a live demo and some examples of how to use the various options here.

Quick start

Bootstrap-select requires jQuery v1.9.1+, Bootstrap’s dropdown.js component, and Bootstrap's CSS. If you're not already using Bootstrap in your project, a precompiled version of the Bootstrap v3.4.1 minimum requirements can be downloaded here. If using bootstrap-select with Bootstrap v4+, you'll also need Popper.js. For all of Bootstrap v4's requirements, see Getting started. A precompiled version of the requirements will be made available in an upcoming release of bootstrap-select.

Several quick start options are available:

  • Download the latest release.
  • Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/snapappointments/bootstrap-select.git
  • Install with npm: npm install bootstrap-select
  • Install with yarn: yarn add bootstrap-select
  • Install with Composer: composer require snapappointments/bootstrap-select
  • Install with NuGet: Install-Package bootstrap-select
  • Install with Bower: bower install bootstrap-select
  • Install via CDN (cdnjs or jsDelivr):
<!-- Latest compiled and minified CSS -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap-select@1.13.18/dist/css/bootstrap-select.min.css">

<!-- Latest compiled and minified JavaScript -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap-select@1.13.18/dist/js/bootstrap-select.min.js"></script>

<!-- (Optional) Latest compiled and minified JavaScript translation files -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap-select@1.13.18/dist/js/i18n/defaults-*.min.js"></script>

The CDN is updated after the release is made public, which means that there is a delay between the publishing of a release and its availability on the CDN.

Usage

Bootstrap 4 only works with bootstrap-select v1.13.0+. By default, bootstrap-select automatically detects the version of Bootstrap being used. However, there are some instances where the version detection won't work. See the documentation for more information.

Via selectpicker class

Add the selectpicker class to your select elements to auto-initialize bootstrap-select.

<select class="selectpicker">
  <option>Mustard</option>
  <option>Ketchup</option>
  <option>Barbecue</option>
</select>

Via JavaScript

// To style only selects with the my-select class
$('.my-select').selectpicker();

or

// To style all selects
$('select').selectpicker();

If calling bootstrap-select via JavaScript, you will need to wrap your code in a .ready() block or place it at the bottom of the page (after the last instance of bootstrap-select).

$(function () {
	$('select').selectpicker();
});

Check out the documentation for further information.

Bugs and feature requests

Anyone and everyone is welcome to contribute. Please take a moment to review the guidelines for contributing. Make sure you're using the latest version of bootstrap-select before submitting an issue.

Documentation

Bootstrap-select's documentation, included in this repo in the root directory, is built with MkDocs and hosted at https://developer.snapappointments.com/bootstrap-select. The documentation may also be run locally.

Copyright and license

Copyright (C) 2012-2018 SnapAppointments, LLC

Licensed under the MIT license.