How to remove the default arrow icon from a dropdown list (select element)?

Step-by-step guide to customizing select controls

Exploring HTML select controls, the need to aestheticize according to your site's design might arise. Enter: the notorious downward arrow that has a mind of its own when it comes to appearance customization.

Understanding and managing browser differences

While appearance: none; has noteworthy recognition, vendor prefixes are needed to assure uniform appearance across the board:

select {
  -webkit-appearance: none; /* You're in the Safari savannah now */
  -moz-appearance: none;    /* Ain't no Firefox foxy enough to avoid this fix */
  appearance: none;         /* Trying hard to be a standard syntax superhero */
}


For Internet Explorer, which has an appetite for anomalies, you might use -ms-expand to make the arrow disappear:

select::-ms-expand {
    display: none; /* Shhh, the arrow is sleeping */
}


If only the appearance property was enough to wave the magic wand on all browsers, especially IE. Additional tricks like adjusting the width and nesting the select element inside a wrapper <div> might steal the show:

<div class="wrapper">
  <select>
    <!-- Options: They're not just about pizza toppings anymore -->
  </select>
</div>


.wrapper {
  overflow: hidden; /* Hide and seek champion of the web world */
}

select {
  width: 110%; /* It's not just about size, it's about perspective */
}


Painting the custom arrow

Once you have banished the default arrow, you might crave to create your own. Don't worry, pseudo-elements (::after or ::before) and background images or icon fonts like FontAwesome have got your back:

.wrapper::after {
  content: '⬇'; /* Unleash your inner Picasso with a custom arrow */
}


User experience: the holy grail

While bringing in customization, don't let usability take a backseat. An unhindered user experience that remains the same regardless of arrow modifications should be given equal, if not more, priority.

Useful tips for the web warriors

1. Testing your custom dropdowns is a non-negotiable task.
2. The golden ratio of form and function should be your mantra.
3. If the curtain gets too heavy, let the JavaScript libraries come to the rescue.

Tackling cross-browser difficulties

Browsers may have unique interpretations of styles and elements, making it crucial to keep cross-browser compatibility in mind while styling select elements.

The fox and the arrow: Firefox fixes

For Firefox, you might need more than -moz-appearance to keep your dropdowns in check and avoid overflow visibility:

select {
    text-indent: 1px; /* Tiny nudges can result in big changes */
    text-overflow: ''; /* The overflow party doesn't have to go all night */
}


Solving Internet Explorer mysteries

With IE's unique quirks in handling select elements, you might use padding changes and overflow techniques to clean up the appearance:

select {
    /* These are not the fixes you were expecting, but the ones you need */
}


Mobile devices: the ever-evolving frontier

On mobile devices, select UI can differ vastly. Make it a point to test on actual devices or emulators to ensure design integrity and functionality match up.

Maintain the balance: with customization come responsibilities

Accessibility: the unsung hero

When sanding and polishing those <select> elements, ensure you maintain accessibility. Despite all the aesthetic improvising, the control should remain intuitive and keyboard-friendly.

Plugin power: take your dropdown to the next level

If you're searching for extra features like search, multi-select, or mobile enhancements, why not consider a plugin like "Chosen"? They provide additional functionality, while keeping the control panel on the look and feel in your hands.

Beware of over-styling

Tread the styling path carefully. Overdoing it might not just compromise usability, it could also send your dropdown on a "fashion over function" spree, when ideally, they should be best friends.