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Autocomplete Search Bar in React

How do you build an autocomplete in React?

The answer

Use useState for query, suggestions, highlight, isLoading, isOpen. Use useEffect for debounce (setTimeout in useEffect with query dependency) and click-outside listener. Use useRef for the container and debounce timer. Handle keyboard navigation in handleKeyDown.

More FAQs in Autocomplete Search Bar in React

Use useEffect with the query as a dependency. Set a setTimeout inside useEffect. Return () => clearTimeout(timer) as the cleanup. This creates a debounced effect that runs 300ms after the query changes.

Use useEffect to add a document click listener. Check if the click is inside the container using a ref: if (containerRef.current && !containerRef.current.contains(e.target)) setIsOpen(false). Remove the listener in the cleanup.

Add onKeyDown to the input. Use setHighlight with a functional update: ArrowDown -> setHighlight(h => Math.min(h + 1, suggestions.length - 1)). Enter -> onSelect(suggestions[highlight]). Escape -> setIsOpen(false).

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