How do you build an autocomplete search bar in JavaScript?
Create an input and a suggestions list. Debounce the input (300ms). Fetch suggestions on input. Render filtered results. Add keyboard navigation (ArrowUp/Down, Enter, Escape). Highlight matching text. Close on click outside. Show loading and no-results states.
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More FAQs in Building an Autocomplete Search Bar: A Complete Guide
To avoid making an API call on every keystroke. Debounce delays the fetch until the user stops typing for 300ms. This reduces API calls, improves performance, and provides a better user experience.
Track a currentHighlight index. ArrowDown increments, ArrowUp decrements. Enter triggers the highlighted item's click. Escape closes the suggestions. Toggle a 'highlighted' CSS class on the active item.
Use a regex to wrap the matching part in a <strong> tag: text.replace(new RegExp(`(${query})`, 'gi'), '<strong>$1</strong>'). Style strong with a different color to highlight the match.
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