# Alternative to Radio buttons

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [19 August 2020 20:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746 "2020-08-19T20:10:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davej](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/davej/32/25150_2.png) [@davej](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/davej)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2020 20:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746/1 "2020-08-19T20:10:51Z")

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Just throwing out a general question.  
With Radio Buttons not being available as part of standard Node Red, what are folk using as a suitable alternative? Seems like it was a decision made some years ago as not considered necessary, however neither a switch, dropdown or a check box can really match what a radio button does.

I have been able to create radio buttons with a default preset button checked but it doesn't have the same look and feel as 'standard' node Red.

Hence the question as to what folk use instead.  
 ![Capture](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/a/7a7f422f57fb1151e7338115729ef6073864b0a3.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![edje11](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/edje11/32/572_2.png) [@edje11](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/edje11)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2020 20:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746/2 "2020-08-19T20:18:12Z")

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Have a look at this topic: [EXAMPLE (template) - displaying a list using Radio buttons, returning the selection, reversing the selection](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/example-template-displaying-a-list-using-radio-buttons-returning-the-selection-reversing-the-selection/670)

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**Author:** ![davej](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/davej/32/25150_2.png) [@davej](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/davej)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2020 20:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746/3 "2020-08-19T20:25:18Z")

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I have already been involved in that thread where I showed the code. I am just asking as to what folk use as an alternative to 'home brewed' radio buttons.

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**Author:** ![BartButenaers](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bartbutenaers/32/10476_2.png) [@BartButenaers](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/BartButenaers)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2020 20:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746/4 "2020-08-19T20:45:15Z")

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Hi David,  
Since the radiobutton allows you to select a single value from a series of available values, I assume an alternative is a simple dropdown ...

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**Author:** ![davej](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/davej/32/25150_2.png) [@davej](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/davej)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2020 21:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746/5 "2020-08-19T21:31:37Z")

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Hi,  
A radio button allows you to see a clear and obvious default value as it is displayed 'checked'.  
A dropdown doesn't really provide that same capability. The best you can do is to set msg.payload to be a preselected choice in a dropdown but it isn't really as intuitive - it is just presented as the first item in a list and doesn't clearly denote a default. When users see a dropdown - they tend to click on it to see what is hidden.  
Maybe I am being picky! I do think (personally) that the omission of a radio button capability in the dashboard in Node Red is rather odd.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 September 2020 21:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alternative-to-radio-buttons/31746/6 "2020-09-18T21:31:38Z")

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