choosing-streamlit-selection-widgets

To choose the right Streamlit selection widget, evaluate your option count, visibility expectations, and single versus multi-select behavior. This determines whether radio, selectbox, segmented_control, or pills provides the optimal layout and interaction for your dashboard.

For 2 to 5 visible options, a compact single-select Streamlit widget like radio or segmented_control is ideal. These display all items simultaneously, ensuring clear interaction without overwhelming the dashboard layout.

Use a Streamlit selectbox instead of radio buttons when dealing with long option lists, such as dozens of items in a settings panel. Selectbox collapses options into a dropdown to maintain a compact layout, whereas radio buttons are better for 2-5 visible options.

Streamlit pills and segmented_control can be evaluated for multi-select behavior based on your layout constraints. The skill recommends the optimal widget by assessing whether your dashboard requires compact single-select or multi-select interaction for the given options.

For large option lists, Streamlit widgets like radio buttons face layout constraints and become visually overwhelming. The limitation is solved by using a selectbox dropdown, which collapses options to save space while maintaining clear selection functionality in forms.