How to set selected value in dropdownlist on page load in asp.net

In this article I am going to explain how to set selected value in dropdownlist on page load from code behind in asp.net using C# and vb.net

Implementation:

HML Markup:

<asp:DropDownList ID="ddlItems" runat="server" CssClass="dropdownlist">

         <asp:ListItem Value="-1">--Select Item--</asp:ListItem>

            <asp:ListItem>Item 1</asp:ListItem>

            <asp:ListItem>Item 2</asp:ListItem>

            <asp:ListItem>Item 3</asp:ListItem>

            <asp:ListItem>Item 4</asp:ListItem>

            <asp:ListItem>Item 5</asp:ListItem>             

        </asp:DropDownList>

Set selected value on page load

C# Code:

  protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {      

        if (!IsPostBack)

        {

           ddlItems.Items.FindByText("Item 3").Selected = true;

        }     

    }

VB.net Code:

Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

        If Not IsPostBack Then

            ddlItems.Items.FindByText("Item 3").Selected = True

        End If

    End Sub