Title for a dropdown

[phppup]

This will give me a dropdown menu

<select name="cars" id="cars">
  <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
  <option value="mercedes">Mercedes</option>
  <option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select>

and by default, the first choice, Volvo, will be visible to the user.

This will let me categorize the menu for the user

<select name="cars" id="cars">
  <option value="" >Car choices</option>
  <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
</select>

but the user CAN select the "Car choices" as an option.

Using an <optgroup> tag gets me CLOSER, but it is NOT visible until after the user clicks the drop-down.

How can I create a visible category title that is not selectable in my drop-down?

[Barand]

As you have it now but make the <select> required (to force a values other than "")

<select name="cars" id="cars" required>
  <option value="" >Car choices</option>
  <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
</select>

 

[phppup]

This is what I've done in the past, but it still allowed the NULL category to be a viable option (especially on a mobile device).

I want something similar to an <optgroup> that is viewable prior to closing the drop-down.

[requinix]

So you want the user to see "Volvo" as the option, but have something in there that shows "Car choices" alongside it?
Use an optgroup, then add some Javascript to copy the selected option's parent optgroup label to some other element that's useful.

Or go with a fancy dropdown element/library.

[phppup]

No, I don't @requinix

I want someone that looks at the form to see the drop-down apparatus with the phrase "Car choices" (similar to a text field placeholder).

it can be visible once the menu drops open, but should NOT be selectable (like an optgroup).