The .change() event will reliably fire when using the mouse to select a value from a <select> element. However, once giving focus to the select, if the keyboard is used to change the value of the select, the .change() event handler is not called. Since the value has changed (regardless of the input method), the .change() handler should be called.

Consider as example:

<select id="#selectID">

<option value="1">A</option>

<option value="2">B</option>

</select>

<script>

$("selectID").change(function(){ alert("Alert"); });

</script>

In this example, as long as the mouse is used to make a selection, the alert occurs. If the keyboard is used, the alert does not occur.

Consistently reproducible on Firefox 3.5.7.