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OptionLabelTemplate

configuration

The template used to render the option label. Use optionLabelTemplate if you want to customize the markup of the optionLabel.

optionLabel has to be defined for the optionLabelTemplate to take effect.

Define the optionLabel as object if complex template structure is used

optionLabelTemplate

String|Function

<input id="dropdownlist" />
<script>
$("#dropdownlist").kendoDropDownList({
    dataSource: [
      { productName: "Product 1", productId: 1 },
      { productName: "Product 2", productId: 2 },
      { productName: "Product 3", productId: 3 },
      { productName: "Product 4", productId: 4 }
    ],
    dataTextField: "productName",
    dataValueField: "productId",
    optionLabel: "-- Please select --",
    optionLabelTemplate:'<span style="color:red">-- Please select --</span>'
});
</script>