Kendo UI Docs

Complete Kendo UI Documentation

API Reference

Related Topics


kendo.ui.AutoComplete

Edit this doc

Represents the Kendo UI AutoComplete widget. Inherits from Widget.

Important: The Kendo UI AutoComplete should be created from an input HTML element.

No results. Try clearing the filter.

Configuration

animation Object

Configures the opening and closing animations of the suggestion popup. Setting the animation option to false will disable the opening and closing animations. As a result the suggestion popup will open and close instantly.

Example - disable open and close animations

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  animation: false
});
</script>

Example - configure the animation

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  animation: {
   close: {
     effects: "fadeOut zoom:out",
     duration: 300
   },
   open: {
     effects: "fadeIn zoom:in",
     duration: 300
   }
  }
});
</script>

animation.close Object

The animation played when the suggestion popup is closed.

Example - configure the close animation

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  animation: {
   close: {
     effects: "fadeOut zoom:out",
     duration: 300
   }
  }
});
</script>

animation.close.effects String

The effect(s) to use when playing the close animation. Multiple effects should be separated with a space.

Complete list of available animations

animation.close.duration Number(default: 100)

The duration of the close animation in milliseconds.

animation.open Object

The animation played when the suggestion popup is opened.

Example - configure the open animation

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  animation: {
   open: {
     effects: "fadeIn zoom:in",
     duration: 300
   }
  }
});
</script>

animation.open.effects String

The effect(s) to use when playing the open animation. Multiple effects should be separated with a space.

Complete list of available animations

animation.open.duration Number(default: 200)

The duration of the open animation in milliseconds.

dataSource Object|Array|kendo.data.DataSource

The data source of the widget which is used to display suggestions for the current value. Can be a JavaScript object which represents a valid data source configuration, a JavaScript array or an existing kendo.data.DataSource instance.

If the dataSource option is set to a JavaScript object or array the widget will initialize a new kendo.data.DataSource instance using that value as data source configuration.

If the dataSource option is an existing kendo.data.DataSource instance the widget will use that instance and will not initialize a new one.

Example - set dataSource as a JavaScript object

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autoComplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: {
    data: ["One", "Two"]
  }
});
</script>

Example - set dataSource as a JavaScript array

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
var data = ["One", "Two"];
$("#autoComplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: data
});
</script>

Example - set dataSource as an existing kendo.data.DataSource instance

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
var dataSource = new kendo.data.DataSource({
  transport: {
    read: {
      url: "http://demos.kendoui.com/service/products",
      dataType: "jsonp"
    }
  }
});
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: dataSource,
  dataTextField: "ProductName"
});
</script>

dataTextField String(default: null)

The field of the data item used when searching for suggestions. This is the text that will be displayed in the list of matched results.

Example - set the dataTextField

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
var data = [
  { id: 1, name: "Apples" },
  { id: 2, name: "Oranges" }
];
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataTextField: "name", // The widget is bound to the "name" field
  dataSource: data
});
</script>

delay Number(default: 200)

The delay in milliseconds between a keystroke and when the widget displays the suggestion popup.

Example - set the delay

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  delay: 500
});
</script>

enable Boolean(default: true)

If set to false the widget will be disabled and will not allow user input. The widget is enabled by default and allows user input.

Example - disable the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  enable: false
});
</script>

filter String(default: "startswith")

The filtering method used to determine the suggestions for the current value. The default filter is "startswith" - all data items which begin with the current widget value are displayed in the suggestion popup. The supported filter values are startswith, endswith and contains.

Example - set the filter

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  filter: "contains"
});
</script>

height Number(default: 200)

The height of the suggestion popup in pixels. The default value is 200 pixels.

Example - set the height

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  height: 500
});
</script>

highlightFirst Boolean(default: true)

If set to true the first suggestion will be automatically highlighted.

Example - set highlightFirst

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  highlightFirst: false
});
</script>

ignoreCase Boolean(default: true)

If set to false case-sensitive search will be performed to find suggestions. The widget performs case-insensitive searching by default.

Example - disable case-insensitive suggestions

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  ignoreCase: false
});
</script>

minLength Number(default: 1)

The minimum number of characters the user must type before a search is performed. Set to higher value than 1 if the search could match a lot of items.

Example - set minLength

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  minLength: 3
});
</script>

placeholder String(default: "")

The hint displayed by the widget when it is empty. Not set by default.

Example - specify placeholder

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  placeholder: "Enter value ..."
});
</script>

The Kendo UI AutoComplete widget could also use the value of the placeholder HTML attribute as hint.

Example - use the placeholder HTML attribute

<input id="autocomplete" placeholder="Enter value..." />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
</script>

separator String(default: "")

The character used to separate multiple values. Empty by default.

Example - set separator to allow multiple values

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  separator: ", "
});
</script>

suggest Boolean(default: false)

If set to true the widget will automatically use the first suggestion as its value.

Example - enable automatic suggestion

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  suggest: true
});
</script>

template String|Function

The template used to render the suggestions. By default the widget displays only the text of the suggestion (configured via dataTextField).

Example - specify template as a function

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script id="template" type="text/x-kendo-template">
  <span>
    <img src="/img/#: id #.png" alt="#: name #" />
    #: name #
  </span>
</script>
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [
    { id: 1, name: "Apples" },
    { id: 2, name: "Oranges" }
  ],
  dataTextField: "name",
  template: kendo.template($("#template").html())
});
</script>

Example - specify template as a string

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [
    { id: 1, name: "Apples" },
    { id: 2, name: "Oranges" }
  ],
  dataTextField: "name",
  template: '<span><img src="/img/#: id #.png" alt="#: name #" />#: name #</span>'
});
</script>

Fields

dataSource kendo.data.DataSource

The data source of the widget. Configured via the dataSource option.

Changes of the data source will be reflected in the widget.

Important: Assigning a new data source would have no effect. Use the setDataSource method instead.

Example - add a data item to the data source

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [
    { name: "Apples" },
    { name: "Oranges" }
  ],
  dataTextField: "name"
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.dataSource.read();
autocomplete.dataSource.add({ name: "Appricot" });
autocomplete.search("A");
</script>

Methods

close

Closes the widget suggestion popup.

Example - close the suggestion popup

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
// Search for items starting with "A" - will open the suggestion popup and show "Apples"
autocomplete.search("A");
// Close the suggestion popup
autocomplete.close();
</script>

dataItem

Returns the data item at the specified index.

Parameters

index Number(optional)

The zero-based index of of the data item.

Returns

Object the data item at the specified index. Returns undefined if the index is not within bounds.

Example - get the item at certain index

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
    dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
// Search for items starting with "A" - will open the suggestion popup and show "Apples"
autocomplete.search("A");
console.log(autocomplete.dataItem(0)); // Displays "Apples" in the browser console
</script>

destroy

Prepares the widget for safe removal from DOM. Detaches all event handlers and removes jQuery.data attributes to avoid memory leaks. Calls destroy method of any child Kendo widgets.

Important: This method does not remove the widget element from DOM.

Example

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.destroy();
</script>

enable

Enables or disables the widget.

Parameters

enable Boolean

If set to true the widget will be enabled. If set to false the widget will be disabled.

Example - enable the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  enable: false
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.enable(true);
</script>

Example - disable the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.enable(false);
</script>

readonly

Toggles the readonly state of the widget. When the widget is readonly it doesn't allow user input.

There is a difference between disabled and readonly mode. The value of a disabled widget is not posted as part of a form whereas the value of a readonly widget is posted.

Parameters

readonly Boolean

If set to true the widget will not allow user input. If set to false the widget will allow user input.

Example - make the widget readonly

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.readonly(true);
</script>

focus

Focuses the widget.

Example - focus the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.focus();
</script>

refresh

Refresh the suggestion popup by rendering all items again.

Example - refresh the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.refresh();
</script>

Searches the data source for the provided value and displays any matches as suggestions.

Parameters

word String

The value to search for. All matches are displayed in the suggestion popup.

Example - search the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.search("A"); // Displays "Apples" in the suggestion popup
</script>

select

Selects the item provided as an argument and updates the value of the widget.

Parameters

item String|Element|jQuery

A string, DOM element or jQuery object which represents the item to be selected. A string is treated as a jQuery selector.

Example - select item

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [ "John", "Jane" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.search("J");
autocomplete.select(autocomplete.ul.children().eq(1)); // Selects the second suggestion which is "Jane"
</script>

setDataSource

Sets the data source of the widget.

Parameters

dataSource kendo.data.DataSource

The data source to which the widget should be bound.

Example

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ]
});
var dataSource = new kendo.data.DataSource({
  data: [ "Bananas", "Cherries" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.setDataSource(dataSource);
</script>

suggest

Sets the value of the widget to the specified argument and visually selects the text.

Parameters

value String

The value to set.

Example

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.suggest("Apples");
</script>

value

Gets or sets the value of the widget.

Parameters

value String

The value to set.

Returns

String the value of the widget.

Example - set and get the value of the widget

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ]
});
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.value("Apples");
var value = autocomplete.value();
console.log(value); // Displays "Apples"
</script>

Events

change

Fired when the value of the widget is changed by the user.

The event handler function context (available via the this keyword) will be set to the widget instance.

Important: The event is not fired when the value of the widget is changed from code.

Event Data

e.sender kendo.ui.AutoComplete

The widget instance which fired the event.

Example - subscribe to the "change" event during initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  change: function(e) {
    var value = this.value();
    // Use the value of the widget
  }
});
</script>

Example - subscribe to the "change" event after initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
function autocomplete_change(e) {
  var value = this.value();
  // Use the value of the widget
}
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.bind("change", autocomplete_change);
</script>

close

Fired when the suggestion popup of the widget is closed by the user.

The event handler function context (available via the this keyword) will be set to the widget instance.

Event Data

e.sender kendo.ui.AutoComplete

The widget instance which fired the event.

Example - subscribe to the "close" event during initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  close: function(e) {
    // handle the event
  }
});
</script>

Example - subscribe to the "close" event after initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
function autocomplete_close(e) {
  // handle the event
}
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.bind("close", autocomplete_close);
</script>

dataBound

Fired when the widget is bound to data from its data source.

The event handler function context (available via the this keyword) will be set to the widget instance.

Event Data

e.sender kendo.ui.AutoComplete

The widget instance which fired the event.

Example - subscribe to the "dataBound" event during initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  dataBound: function(e) {
      // handle the event
  }
});
</script>

Example - subscribe to the "dataBound" event after initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
function autocomplete_dataBound(e) {
  // handle the event
}
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.bind("dataBound", autocomplete_dataBound);
</script>

open

Fired when the suggestion popup of the widget is opened by the user.

The event handler function context (available via the this keyword) will be set to the widget instance.

Event Data

e.sender kendo.ui.AutoComplete

The widget instance which fired the event.

Example - subscribe to the "open" event during initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  open: function(e) {
    // handle the event
  }
});
</script>

Example - subscribe to the "open" event after initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
function autocomplete_open(e) {
  // handle the event
}
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.bind("open", autocomplete_open);
</script>

select

Fired when an item from the suggestion popup is selected by the user.

Event Data

e.item jQuery

The jQuery object which represents the selected item.

e.sender kendo.ui.AutoComplete

The widget instance which fired the event.

Example - subscribe to the "select" event during initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete({
  select: function(e) {
    var item = e.item;
    var text = item.text();
    // Use the selected item or its text
  }
});
</script>

Example - subscribe to the "select" event after initialization

<input id="autocomplete" />
<script>
function autocomplete_select(e) {
  var item = e.item;
  var text = item.text();
  // Use the selected item or its text
}
$("#autocomplete").kendoAutoComplete();
var autocomplete = $("#autocomplete").data("kendoAutoComplete");
autocomplete.bind("select", autocomplete_select);
</script>

Field

element

A jQuery object of the original input element.

options

An object, which holds the options of the widget.

wrapper

A jQuery object of the span element which wraps the input.

list

A jQuery object of the drop-down list element.

ul

A jQuery object of the ul element, which holds the available options.

dataSource

The DataSource instance used by the widget.

popup

The Popup instace used by the widget.

Page rendered at 5/19/2013 11:50:07 AM UTC.