<header>
  <h1>Autocomplete</h1>
  <p>Demonstration of a fully accessible autocomplete/search component in vanilla JavaScript. Based on the <a href='https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-practices-1.1/#combobox' target='_blank'>WAI-ARIA authoring practices 1.1</a>.</p>
</header>
<main>
  <div class='container'>
    <form class='autocomplete-container'>
      <div
        class='autocomplete'
        role='combobox'
        aria-expanded='false'
        aria-owns='autocomplete-results'
        aria-haspopup='listbox'
      >
        <input
          class='autocomplete-input'
          placeholder='Search for a fruit or vegetable'
          aria-label='Search for a fruit or vegetable'
          aria-autocomplete='both'
          aria-controls='autocomplete-results'
        >
        <button type='submit' class='autocomplete-submit' aria-label='Search'>
          <svg aria-hidden='true' viewBox='0 0 24 24'>
            <path d='M9.5,3A6.5,6.5 0 0,1 16,9.5C16,11.11 15.41,12.59 14.44,13.73L14.71,14H15.5L20.5,19L19,20.5L14,15.5V14.71L13.73,14.44C12.59,15.41 11.11,16 9.5,16A6.5,6.5 0 0,1 3,9.5A6.5,6.5 0 0,1 9.5,3M9.5,5C7,5 5,7 5,9.5C5,12 7,14 9.5,14C12,14 14,12 14,9.5C14,7 12,5 9.5,5Z' />
          </svg>
        </button>
      </div>
      <ul
        id='autocomplete-results'
        class='autocomplete-results hidden'
        role='listbox'
        aria-label='Search for a fruit or vegetable'
      >
      </ul>
    </form>
    <p class='search-result'></p>
  </div>
</main>
$color-primary: #1c5b72;

main {
  margin: 64px 0;
  padding: 0 16px;
}

.container {
  margin: 0 auto;
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 600px;
}

.autocomplete-container {
  position: relative;
}

.autocomplete {
  display: flex;
}

input,
button {
  font-family: inherit;
}

.autocomplete-input {
  border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54);
  width: 100%;
  padding: 8px;
  font-size: 16px;
  line-height: 1.5;
  flex: 1;
}

.autocomplete-submit {
  border: 1px solid $color-primary;
  padding: 8px 16px;
  background: $color-primary;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.autocomplete-submit svg {
  width: 24px;
  height: 24px;
  fill: #fff;
}

.autocomplete-results {
  position: absolute;
  margin-top: -1px;
  border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54);
  padding: 4px 0;
  width: 100%;
  z-index: 1;
  background: #fff;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  list-style: none;
  transition: none;
}

.autocomplete-result {
  cursor: default;
  padding: 4px 8px;
}

.autocomplete-result:hover {
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);
}

.autocomplete-result.selected {
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);
}

.search-result {
  margin-top: 64px;
  text-align: center;
}

.hidden {
  display: none;
}

/* General layout and typography stuff */
@import url("https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:300,400");

* {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  position: relative;
  transition: all .3s ease
}

html {
  font-size: 16px
}

body {
  font-family: Open Sans, Verdana, sans-serif;
  color: rgba(0, 0, 0, .87);
  font-weight: 400;
  line-height: 1.45
}

body,
header {
  background: #fafafa
}

header {
  padding: 40px;
  min-height: 200px;
  text-align: center;
  color: rgba(0, 0, 0, .87)
}

header > * {
  max-width: 800px;
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto
}

header>:last-child {
  margin-bottom: 0
}

h1 {
  margin-bottom: 0.5em;
  font-weight: inherit;
  line-height: 1.2;
  color: #1c5b72;
  font-size: 2.618em
}

p {
  margin-bottom: 1.3em;
  line-height: 1.618
}

@media (min-width:800px) {
  h1 {
    font-size: 4.236em;
    font-weight: 300
  }
  
  p {
    font-size: 1.3em
  }
}

a {
  color: #e03616;
  text-decoration: none
}
View Compiled
console.clear()

const data = [
  'Apple',
  'Artichoke',
  'Asparagus',
  'Banana',
  'Beets',
  'Bell pepper',
  'Broccoli',
  'Brussels sprout',
  'Cabbage',
  'Carrot',
  'Cauliflower',
  'Celery',
  'Chard',
  'Chicory',
  'Corn',
  'Cucumber',
  'Daikon',
  'Date',
  'Edamame',
  'Eggplant',
  'Elderberry',
  'Fennel',
  'Fig',
  'Garlic',
  'Grape',
  'Honeydew melon',
  'Iceberg lettuce',
  'Jerusalem artichoke',
  'Kale',
  'Kiwi',
  'Leek',
  'Lemon',
  'Mango',
  'Mangosteen',
  'Melon',
  'Mushroom',
  'Nectarine',
  'Okra',
  'Olive',
  'Onion',
  'Orange',
  'Parship',
  'Pea',
  'Pear',
  'Pineapple',
  'Potato',
  'Pumpkin',
  'Quince',
  'Radish',
  'Rhubarb',
  'Shallot',
  'Spinach',
  'Squash',
  'Strawberry',
  'Sweet potato',
  'Tomato',
  'Turnip',
  'Ugli fruit',
  'Victoria plum',
  'Watercress',
  'Watermelon',
  'Yam',
  'Zucchini'
]

class Autocomplete {
  constructor({
    rootNode,
    inputNode,
    resultsNode,
    searchFn,
    shouldAutoSelect = false,
    onShow = () => {},
    onHide = () => {}
  } = {}) {
    this.rootNode = rootNode
    this.inputNode = inputNode
    this.resultsNode = resultsNode
    this.searchFn = searchFn
    this.shouldAutoSelect = shouldAutoSelect
    this.onShow = onShow
    this.onHide = onHide
    this.activeIndex = -1
    this.resultsCount = 0
    this.showResults = false
    this.hasInlineAutocomplete = this.inputNode.getAttribute('aria-autocomplete') === 'both'

    // Setup events
    document.body.addEventListener('click', this.handleDocumentClick)
    this.inputNode.addEventListener('keyup', this.handleKeyup)
    this.inputNode.addEventListener('keydown', this.handleKeydown)
    this.inputNode.addEventListener('focus', this.handleFocus)
    this.resultsNode.addEventListener('click', this.handleResultClick)
  }
  
  handleDocumentClick = event => {
    if (event.target === this.inputNode || this.rootNode.contains(event.target)) {
      return
    }
    this.hideResults()
  }

  handleKeyup = event => {
    const { key } = event

    switch (key) {
      case 'ArrowUp':
      case 'ArrowDown':
      case 'Escape':
      case 'Enter':
        event.preventDefault()
        return
      default:
        this.updateResults()
    }
    
    if (this.hasInlineAutocomplete) {
      switch(key) {
        case 'Backspace':
          return
        default:
          this.autocompleteItem()
      }
    }
  }
  
  handleKeydown = event => {
    const { key } = event
    let activeIndex = this.activeIndex
    
    if (key === 'Escape') {
      this.hideResults()
      this.inputNode.value = ''
      return
    }
    
    if (this.resultsCount < 1) {
      if (this.hasInlineAutocomplete && (key === 'ArrowDown' || key === 'ArrowUp')) {
        this.updateResults()
      } else {
        return
      }
    }
    
    const prevActive = this.getItemAt(activeIndex)
    let activeItem
    
    switch(key) {
      case 'ArrowUp':
        if (activeIndex <= 0) {
          activeIndex = this.resultsCount - 1
        } else {
          activeIndex -= 1
        }
        break
      case 'ArrowDown':
        if (activeIndex === -1 || activeIndex >= this.resultsCount - 1) {
          activeIndex = 0
        } else {
          activeIndex += 1
        }
        break
      case 'Enter':
        activeItem = this.getItemAt(activeIndex)
        this.selectItem(activeItem)
        return
      case 'Tab':
        this.checkSelection()
        this.hideResults()
        return
      default:
        return
    }
    
    event.preventDefault()
    activeItem = this.getItemAt(activeIndex)
    this.activeIndex = activeIndex
    
    if (prevActive) {
      prevActive.classList.remove('selected')
      prevActive.setAttribute('aria-selected', 'false')
    }
    
    if (activeItem) {
      this.inputNode.setAttribute('aria-activedescendant', `autocomplete-result-${activeIndex}`)
      activeItem.classList.add('selected')
      activeItem.setAttribute('aria-selected', 'true')
      if (this.hasInlineAutocomplete) {
        this.inputNode.value = activeItem.innerText
      }
    } else {
      this.inputNode.setAttribute('aria-activedescendant', '')
    }
  }
  
  handleFocus = event => {
    this.updateResults()
  }
  
  handleResultClick = event => {
    if (event.target && event.target.nodeName === 'LI') {
      this.selectItem(event.target)
    }
  }
  
  getItemAt = index => {
    return this.resultsNode.querySelector(`#autocomplete-result-${index}`)
  }
  
  selectItem = node => {
    if (node) {
      this.inputNode.value = node.innerText
      this.hideResults()
    }
  }
  
  checkSelection = () => {
    if (this.activeIndex < 0) {
      return
    }
    const activeItem = this.getItemAt(this.activeIndex)
    this.selectItem(activeItem)
  }
  
  autocompleteItem = event => {
    const autocompletedItem = this.resultsNode.querySelector('.selected')
    const input = this.inputNode.value
    if (!autocompletedItem || !input) {
      return
    }
    
    const autocomplete = autocompletedItem.innerText
    if (input !== autocomplete) {
      this.inputNode.value = autocomplete
      this.inputNode.setSelectionRange(input.length, autocomplete.length)
    }
  }
  
  updateResults = () => {
    const input = this.inputNode.value
    const results = this.searchFn(input)
    
    this.hideResults()
    if (results.length === 0) {
      return
    }
    
    this.resultsNode.innerHTML = results.map((result, index) => {
      const isSelected = this.shouldAutoSelect && index === 0
      if (isSelected) {
        this.activeIndex = 0
      }
      return `
        <li
          id='autocomplete-result-${index}'
          class='autocomplete-result${isSelected ? ' selected' : ''}'
          role='option'
          ${isSelected ? "aria-selected='true'" : ''}
        >
          ${result}
        </li>
      `
    }).join('')
    
    this.resultsNode.classList.remove('hidden')
    this.rootNode.setAttribute('aria-expanded', true)
    this.resultsCount = results.length
    this.shown = true
    this.onShow()
  }
  
  hideResults = () => {
    this.shown = false
    this.activeIndex = -1
    this.resultsNode.innerHTML = ''
    this.resultsNode.classList.add('hidden')
    this.rootNode.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false')
    this.resultsCount = 0
    this.inputNode.setAttribute('aria-activedescendant', '')
    this.onHide()
  }
}

const search = input => {
  if (input.length < 1) {
    return []
  }
  return data.filter(item => item.toLowerCase().startsWith(input.toLowerCase()))
}

const autocomplete = new Autocomplete({
  rootNode: document.querySelector('.autocomplete'),
  inputNode: document.querySelector('.autocomplete-input'),
  resultsNode: document.querySelector('.autocomplete-results'),
  searchFn: search,
  shouldAutoSelect: true
})

document.querySelector('form').addEventListener('submit', (event) => {
  event.preventDefault()
  const result = document.querySelector('.search-result')
  const input = document.querySelector('.autocomplete-input')
  result.innerHTML = 'Searched for: ' + input.value
})
View Compiled

External CSS

This Pen doesn't use any external CSS resources.

External JavaScript

  1. https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/fuse.js/3.2.0/fuse.js