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Bootstrap-select is a free jQuery plugin that adds searchable, multiselect controls to native HTML <select> elements. To enable live search, add data-live-search="true"; to allow multiple selections, add the native multiple attribute. “V10” is not an official version label shown by the project sources checked here, which identify releases in the 1.x series.

What Bootstrap-select does

Bootstrap-select, maintained in the SnapAppointments project, enhances a standard HTML select with a Bootstrap-styled interface and options such as live search and multiselection. It is a JavaScript/jQuery plugin, not a Bootstrap framework release or a separate desktop product. The upstream project is distributed under the MIT license. See the upstream repository and README.

Enable live search and multiple selection

Use a native select as the starting point. The selectpicker class marks it for the plugin, data-live-search="true" enables the search field, and multiple lets a user select more than one option.

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<select class="selectpicker" data-live-search="true" multiple>
  <option value="html">HTML</option>
  <option value="css">CSS</option>
  <option value="javascript">JavaScript</option>
</select>

The live-search field helps users find an option by its displayed label. If an option should also be found by a synonym or related term that is not in that label, add a data-tokens value to the option. For example:

<option data-tokens="js scripting" value="javascript">JavaScript</option>

The official examples document live search, tokens, and the multiple attribute. View the upstream examples.

Check compatibility before installing

The upstream quick start lists jQuery 1.9.1 or later, Bootstrap CSS, and Bootstrap’s dropdown component as requirements. For Bootstrap 4 and later, it also calls for Popper.js. Because the plugin spans multiple Bootstrap generations, verify its compatibility guidance against the Bootstrap and jQuery versions actually used by your application before adding it. The upstream README lists installation and dependency details.

The project documents package-manager, source, and CDN installation routes, including npm, yarn, Composer, NuGet, Bower, direct source or release downloads, and a CDN. Use the route that fits your build and dependency-management setup, and follow the corresponding instructions rather than combining snippets from different Bootstrap versions.

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Understand the version labels

“V10” does not match the version labels shown by the checked upstream sources. As of October 10, 2026, the npm page identifies 1.13.18 as the latest release and 1.14.0-beta3 as next; the upstream repository’s main-branch package metadata identifies 1.14.0-beta3. These are different distribution-channel labels: the repository metadata’s beta should not be described as npm’s latest stable release. Check the registry and repository again when choosing a version because their labels can change. Check npm’s version tags and the repository package metadata.

Upstream jQuery plugin or Bootstrap 5+ fork?

There is a distinct alternative for projects that want to avoid the jQuery dependency: the CrestApps project describes its implementation as a dependency-free vanilla JavaScript fork targeting Bootstrap 5 and later. It is not the same implementation as SnapAppointments’ original jQuery plugin. Choose according to your application’s dependencies and Bootstrap version, then verify the selected project’s current API and release status in its own documentation.

Implementation Dependency model Bootstrap target Version and API check
SnapAppointments bootstrap-select jQuery plugin Documents multiple Bootstrap generations; verify the combination your application uses As of October 10, 2026, npm labels 1.13.18 latest and 1.14.0-beta3 next; repository package metadata says 1.14.0-beta3
CrestApps fork Dependency-free vanilla JavaScript, as described by the project Bootstrap 5+ Check the fork’s documentation for its current version and API

Read the CrestApps fork documentation.

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Configure selected-value display carefully

Bootstrap-select provides configuration for how selected values are displayed in a multiselect. If you plan to rely on a particular display behavior, check the documentation for the version you install: the upstream documentation flags some selection-display behavior as deprecated for v2.0.0. Do not assume an option documented for an earlier release will remain supported unchanged.

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