---
title: Events
taxonomy:
    category: docs
process:
    twig: true
never_cache_twig: true
---

Select2 will trigger a few different events when different actions are taken using the component, allowing you to add custom hooks and perform actions.

| Event | Description |
| ----- | ----------- |
| `change` | Triggered whenever an option is selected or removed. |
| `select2:closing` | Triggered before the dropdown is closed. This event can be prevented. |
| `select2:close` | Triggered whenever the dropdown is closed. <code>select2:closing</code> is fired before this and can be prevented. |
| `select2:opening` | Triggered before the dropdown is opened. This event can be prevented. |
| `select2:open` | Triggered whenever the dropdown is opened. <code>select2:opening</code> is fired before this and can be prevented. |
| `select2:selecting` | Triggered before a result is selected. This event can be prevented. |
| `select2:select` | Triggered whenever a result is selected. <code>select2:selecting</code> is fired before this and can be prevented. |
| `select2:unselecting` | Triggered before a selection is removed. This event can be prevented. |
| `select2:unselect` | Triggered whenever a selection is removed. <code>select2:unselecting</code> is fired before this and can be prevented. |

## Listening for events

```
$('select').on('select2:select', function (e) {
  // Do something
});
```

## Event data

When `select2:select` is triggered, data from the selection can ba accessed via the `params.data` property:

```
$('select').on('select2:select', function (e) {
  console.log(e.params.data)
});
```

### What events can be prevented? How can I prevent a selection from being made?


## Examples

<div class="s2-example">
  <p>
    <select class="js-states js-example-events form-control"></select>
  </p>
  <p>
    <select class="js-states js-example-events form-control" multiple="multiple"></select>
  </p>
</div>

<div class="s2-event-log">
  <ul class="js-event-log"></ul>
</div>

<pre data-fill-from=".js-code-events"></pre>

<script type="text/javascript" class="js-code-events">
var $eventLog = $(".js-event-log");
var $eventSelect = $(".js-example-events");

$eventSelect.select2();

$eventSelect.on("select2:open", function (e) { log("select2:open", e); });
$eventSelect.on("select2:close", function (e) { log("select2:close", e); });
$eventSelect.on("select2:select", function (e) { log("select2:select", e); });
$eventSelect.on("select2:unselect", function (e) { log("select2:unselect", e); });

$eventSelect.on("change", function (e) { log("change"); });

function log (name, evt) {
  if (!evt) {
    var args = "{}";
  } else {
    var args = JSON.stringify(evt.params, function (key, value) {
      if (value && value.nodeName) return "[DOM node]";
      if (value instanceof $.Event) return "[$.Event]";
      return value;
    });
  }
  var $e = $("<li>" + name + " -> " + args + "</li>");
  $eventLog.append($e);
  $e.animate({ opacity: 1 }, 10000, 'linear', function () {
    $e.animate({ opacity: 0 }, 2000, 'linear', function () {
      $e.remove();
    });
  });
}
</script>

## Internal Select2 events

Select2 has an [internal event system](/advanced/default-adapters/selection#eventrelay) that works independently of the DOM event system. This internal event system is only accessible from plugins and adapters that are connected to Select2.