Is it possible to use a Webflow CMS collection to populate a dropdown menu with items? For example, can the items in the dropdown menu correspond to a multi-collection reference for colors that apply to a selected t-shirt?
TL;DR
- Native Webflow dropdowns can’t bind to CMS content, but you can simulate one using a styled Collection List with interactions.
- Use nested Collection Lists for multi-reference fields and custom JavaScript to populate actual form dropdowns dynamically.
Yes, you can use Webflow CMS collections to populate dropdown menus, but with some limitations depending on how you implement the dropdown. Here's how to approach it depending on your goal:
1. Use a Collection List to Simulate a Dropdown Menu
- Webflow’s native Dropdown component cannot be directly bound to CMS content.
- Instead, you can simulate a dropdown by using a Collection List styled to look and behave like a dropdown.
- For example, create a button that toggles visibility of the Collection List with interactions.
2. Populate Options from a Multi-Reference Field
- You can’t bind a multi-reference field directly into a native Dropdown input.
- However, if you're displaying a product (like a t-shirt), you can use a Collection List nested inside a product template to display all the referenced color options from a multi-reference field.
- Example: On a t-shirt CMS template page, add a nested Collection List connected to the “Colors” multi-reference field. Each item would display a color name or swatch.
3. Dynamic Forms Require Custom Code
- If you're building a form with a select/dropdown input, you cannot natively bind options to CMS items.
- To achieve that, you'll need to use custom JavaScript to:
- Query CMS data (e.g., via Webflow’s CMS JSON data using Webflow’s API via fetch or by using a hidden Collection List).
- Dynamically populate a true
<select>input with those values on page load.
4. Workaround Using Collection Pages
- If the goal is for users to filter or navigate based on CMS items (like selecting a color to filter t-shirts), use:
- Collection Lists to display filters or options.
- Combine with page reloads, query strings, or Finsweet’s CMS Filter attributes to dynamically show data tied to those choices.
Summary
While you can't bind a CMS collection to a native Webflow Dropdown input, you can simulate it with a styled Collection List, or use custom code to dynamically populate the dropdown. For multi-reference fields like t-shirt colors, use nested Collection Lists on CMS template pages to show available options.