How to Add React Dropdown List in a Next.js App?

Are you looking to enhance the user experience of your Next.js application by integrating sophisticated dropdown list components?

Look no further than the Syncfusion React Dropdown List component. Its rich feature set and seamless integration capabilities can take your app to the next level in terms of functionality and aesthetics.

Let’s see how to add the React Dropdown List to your Next.js app easily!

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• Node.js 18.17 or later
• A compatible operating system (macOS, Windows, or Linux)

Create a Next.js app

Let’s create a Next.js app by following these steps:

1. Start by opening your terminal and running one of the following commands to create a new Next.js app.
   Using NPM

   npx create-next-app@latest

   Using Yarn

   yarn create next-app

2. Follow these prompts to configure your project. You’ll need to define the project name (e.g., ej2-nextjs-dropdown) and select the required packages (e.g., TypeScript, ESLint, Tailwind CSS, and more).

   √ What is your project named? ... ej2-nextjs-dropdown
   √ Would you like to use TypeScript? ... No / Yes
   √ Would you like to use ESLint? ... No / Yes
   √ Would you like to use Tailwind CSS? ... No / Yes
   √ Would you like to use `src/` directory? ... No / Yes
   √ Would you like to use App Router? (recommended) ... No / Yes
   √ Would you like to customize the default import alias (@/*)? ... No / Yes
   Creating a new Next.js app in D:\Samples\ej2-nextjs-dropdown.

Add Syncfusion React Dropdown List in the Next.js app

Follow these steps to add the Syncfusion React Dropdown List component in your Next.js app:

1. First, navigate to the created project directory using the following command.

   cd ej2-nextjs-dropdown

2. Now, install the Syncfusion React Dropdowns package using the following command.
   Using NPM

   npm install @syncfusion/ej2-react-dropdowns --save

   Or using Yarn

   yarn add @syncfusion/ej2-react-dropdowns

3. Next, import the Syncfusion CSS styles into your src/app/globals.css file. Remove any existing styles and add the following imports.
   globals.css

   @import '../../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css'; 
   @import '../../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css';  
   @import '../../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-react-dropdowns/styles/material. css';

4. Now, import and define the DropDownListComponent with the dataSource property in your src/app/page.tsx file.
   page.tsx

   'use client'
   import { DropDownListComponent } from '@syncfusion/ej2-react-dropdowns';
   
   export default function Home() {
       const sportsData: { [key: string]: Object }[] = [
           { Id: 'game1', Game: 'Badminton' },
           { Id: 'game2', Game: 'Football' },
           { Id: 'game3', Game: 'Tennis' }
       ];
     const fieldSettings: object = { text: 'Game', value: 'Id' };
     return (
       <>
         <h2>Syncfusion React DropDownList Component</h2>
         <DropDownListComponent 
             id="ddlelement" 
             dataSource={sportsData} 
             fields={fieldSettings} 
             placeholder="Select a game"/>    
       </>
     )
   }

Run the app

Finally, run the application using the following command.

Using NPM

npm run dev

Using Yarn

yarn run dev

After running the app, the React Dropdown List will be added to the Next.js app. Refer to the following image.

Customizing the Syncfusion React Dropdown List

Syncfusion Dropdown List offers extensive customization options to tailor the dropdown to your app’s specific requirements. Here are a few standard customization options:

• Data binding: You can link the dropdown list to various data sources, including arrays, objects, and remote data.
• Templates: Customize the appearance of each item in the Dropdown List using templates.
• Filtering and searching: Enable filtering and searching capabilities to help users find items quickly.
• Grouping: Group related items together for better organization and user experience.
• Styling: Apply custom styles to the Dropdown List to match your app’s design.

Note: Refer to the Customization in React Dropdown List documentation for more details.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading! In this blog, we’ve covered how to integrate and customize the Syncfusion React Dropdown List component in your Next.js app to enhance user experience. Like this, you can also add other Syncfusion React components to your Next.js app to easily build robust apps.

If you’re already a Syncfusion user, you can download the latest version of Essential Studio® from the License and Downloads page. If you’re new to Syncfusion, we invite you to try our components with a 30-day free trial to explore their features and capabilities.

If you need any assistance, feel free to contact us through our support forum, support portal, or feedback portal. We’re always happy to help you!

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