Selected value for JSP drop down using JSTL

i tried the last answer from Sandeep Kumar, and i found way more simple :

<option value="1" <c:if test="${item.key == 1}"> selected </c:if>>

In HTML, the selected option is represented by the presence of the selected attribute on the <option> element like so:

<option ... selected>...</option>

Or if you're HTML/XHTML strict:

<option ... selected="selected">...</option>

Thus, you just have to let JSP/EL print it conditionally. Provided that you've prepared the selected department as follows:

request.setAttribute("selectedDept", selectedDept);

then this should do:

<select name="department">
    <c:forEach var="item" items="${dept}">
        <option value="${item.key}" ${item.key == selectedDept ? 'selected="selected"' : ''}>${item.value}</option>
    </c:forEach>
</select>

See also:

• How can I retain HTML form field values in JSP after submitting form to Servlet?

If you don't mind using jQuery you can use the code bellow:

    <script>
     $(document).ready(function(){
           $("#department").val("${requestScope.selectedDepartment}").attr('selected', 'selected');
     });
     </script>


    <select id="department" name="department">
      <c:forEach var="item" items="${dept}">
        <option value="${item.key}">${item.value}</option>
      </c:forEach>
    </select>

In the your Servlet add the following:

        request.setAttribute("selectedDepartment", YOUR_SELECTED_DEPARTMENT );