I am new to alpine and I have a particular issue with prefilling a select option

[baffourt]

So I display it here, I have an option select if these values:
<option value="">-- Select --</option> <template x-for="m in exam.months" :key="m.value"> <option :value="m.value" x-text="m.text"></option> </template>

exam.months = [{"id":1,"value":"1","text":"May/June"},{"id":2,"value":"2","text":"Nov/Dec"}]
exam.month = 1.
It doesnt select any option in the drop down.

<select :name="Exams[${index}].Month`"
x-model="exam.month"
class="w-full border rounded px-3 py-2">

<option value="">-- Select --</option>

<template x-for="m in exam.months" :key="m.value">
    <option :value="m.value.toString()" x-text="m.text"></option>
</template>

`

Still same, it only selects when I add :selected="m.value === exam.month"
what am I getting wrong, since I don't want to be setting :selected like that

[ekwoka]

You need to do that second part (currently).

essentially, things are handled from start to finish, so the model on the select happens before the x-for has filled in the options, meaning the corresponding option doesn't actually exist when the model happens.

[baffourt]

You need to do that second part (currently).

essentially, things are handled from start to finish, so the model on the select happens before the x-for has filled in the options, meaning the corresponding option doesn't actually exist when the model happens.

Ok, that is good information, how do we handle this specific case then? can we defer the model or something else

[ekwoka]

Just doing the :selected="<EXPRESSION>" part