DropDownList Vs ComboBox Vs Autocomplete

Syncfusion has some Editor components that is used for selecting items from a list of items in the websites. The Autocomplete, ComboBox, and DropDownList are similar components with slight variations in the functionalities.

Autocomplete: Autocomplete component is a textbox component that shows suggestion list based on the user query.

• Use Cases: Autocomplete can be used in websites or webapplications where the user wants the list items to be filtered against the text typed in the input area, instead of browsing the complete list items for selection. Multiple columns can be displayed in popup using the multiColumnSettings property. For example, Ticket booking sites with input boxes for choosing origin and destination for journey, searching available products in shopping sites, etc.
• Target Audience: Developers who needs to develop websites with search options in their websites such as, online shopping and for searching some available services in their sites.

ComboBox: ComboBox component is a combination of list box and DropDownList with the editable text box, auto completion, and filtering functionality.

• Use Cases: ComboBox can be used in websites or webapplications where the users can either search their options in input box or browse with the available options, and the user can able to edit the selected option via input box. This cannot be used in case of multiple selection. It can be used in sites where the user can edit items in input box and enter an option that is not present in the predefined list of items.

• Target Audience: Developers who needs to develop websites with search options as well as browse with predefined list items in their sites. Chosen value can be edited in ComboBox input box.

DropDownList: DropDownList component displays a single column list of items from that the user can make single or multiple selection.

• Use Cases: DropDownList works well with small or large sets of data. DropDownList can be used in websites or webapplications where the users are limited to some list of choices with non-editable input box. It is advisable to use DropDownList when the list items are few. For example, to choose a certain range of pricing for products with min and max value in shopping sites and to select bus types based on requirement in ticket booking sites.
• Target Audience: Developers who needs to develop websites with a component that limits the user’s selection with a set of predefined list items with a non-editable input box.

          Comparison table with features of these components are listed in the following.