How to select the dropdownlist value and validate it - php

Question

I have created the dropdown list in my index page i want to select the one value from that list and validate it if not selected any value the code for that is as follows:
<form action="" method="post">
<select value="state" name="state">
<option selected="">---please enter---</option>
<option value="1">andhra</option>
<option value="2">thamil</option>
<option value="3">kerela</option>
</select>
</form>
php code for the above file is as follows:
<?php
if(!empty($_POST['state'])) {
$state = $_POST['state'];
}
else {
echo "required";
}
?>
I dont want to be select the first option in selection list please enter to be selected but the code which I have used is taking that value also I want relevant code how to validate that list?

Answer 1

I prefer adding a disabled attribute to the placeholder option, that way, a user has to choose something if they click the drop-down:
<select value="state" name="state">
<option selected disabled>---please enter---</option>
<option value="1">andhra</option>
<option value="2">thamil</option>
<option value="3">kerela</option>
</select>
Quick demo: http://jsfiddle.net/hxxJZ/

Answer 2

something like this should to the trick:
<form action="" method="post">
<select name="state">
<option value="0" selected>---please enter---</option>
<option value="1">andhra</option>
<option value="2">thamil</option>
<option value="3">kerela</option>
</select>
</form>
php
<?php
if( 0 != $_POST['state'] ) {
$state = $_POST['state'];
}
else {
echo "required";
}
?>

Answer 3

your HTML is not right,
try edit this line
<option selected=""...
to this one
<option selected value="">---

Answer 4

select elements do not have an (HTML) value attribute, so remove value="state".
The selected attribute should be selected="selected" (or just SELECTED).