Why I am getting “System.Web.Mvc.SelectListItem” in my DropDownList?

Question

I believe I have bound my data correctly, but I can\'t seem to get my text property for each SelectListItem to show properly.

My model:

public class          


        

Answer 1

I explicitly set the dataValueField and dataTextField names.

new SelectListItem
{
    Value = row["Description"].ToString(),
    Text = "test"
}), "Value", "Text");

Then there's no need to write Model.LicenseNames.Items as List<SelectListItem> in your views (as suggested in your accepted answer).

Answer 2

Use the Items property of your LicenseNames property which is of type SelectList

@Html.DropDownList("SelectedLicenseName", new SelectList(Model.LicenseNames.Items,
                                       "Value", "Text", Model.LicenseNames.SelectedValue))

Or with the DropDownListFor helper method

@Html.DropDownListFor(d=>d.SelectedLicenseName, 
                                         Model.LicenseNames.Items as List<SelectListItem>)

So when you post your form, you can inspect the SelectedLicenseName property

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Create(Licenses model)
{
  //check model.SelectedLicenseName
}