Whats the possibility of one updating a database field with a form having a drop down without changing the value of the drop down field - php

Question

Lets say i input data into a mysql database using a drop down like:
<div>
<input name="name" type="text" id="name" placeholder="Enter Name"></div>
<div>
<select name="position" id="position" type="text">
<option selected="selected">Select</option>
<option value="A">A</option>
<option value="B">B</option>
<option value="C">C</option>
</select>
</div>
With a normal text field, i can simply include the value field to show on the form the initially entered data in the table. And change that so when i submit form, it updates the related field.
<div>
<select name="position" id="position" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_position['Position']; ?>>
<option selected="selected">Select</option>
<option value="A">A</option>
<option value="B">B</option>
<option value="C">C</option>
</select>
</div>
So assuming i do not want to update the field relating to the drop down, how do i it? Because what happens is, once i submit the form without selecting any option from the drop down, it picks the first option from the list which is the "Select" option and uses that to update the related field in the database.

Answer 1

I'd suggest at least two steps to make it user-friendly and achieve your goals:
First, make the initially entered selection selected if available:
<?php
$positions = Array("A", "B", "C");
?>
<div>
<select name="position" id="position">
<option value="-1">Select</option>
<?php
foreach($positions as $v) {
$selected = ($row_position['Position']===$v) ? "selected" : "";
echo "<option value='$v' $selected>$v</option>";
}
?>
</select>
</div>
And on the receiving php-script check if you've received a valid option, otherwise send error-message:
<?php
//other stuff...
if($_POST['position']>0) {
// save that value
} else {
// send error to user
}
// even more stuff..
?>
Notes: in select tag there is no type=text nor a value=anything available.

Answer 2

Assuming you are fetching dropdown options from database.
Note: Array keys, variables are only for demonstration purposes. This may differ from your actual records.
<div>
<select name="position" id="position">
<?php foreach($options as $option): ?>
<option value="<?= $option['position'] ?>" <?php if($option['position'] == $current_record['position']) { echo "selected"; } ?>> <!-- e.g. $option['id'] -->
<?= $option['name'] ?>
</option>
<? endforeach; ?>
</select>
</div>

Answer 3

What i have done that has solved the issue was to simply add the value from the database to the selectedoption or the first option field. So by default without changing the drop down, the first option with the value from the database is selected. And so there would be no change.
<div>
<div><?php echo $row_position['Position']; ?></div>
<select name="position" id="position">
<option value="<?php echo $row_position['Position']; ?>Select to Change</option>
<option value="A">A</option>
<option value="B">B</option>
<option value="C">C</option>
</select>
</div>
This gives a simple or straight forward solution to the problem.
Will still try the other suggestions to see how it all plays out. Thanks guys.