IE 11 / HTML5 / Datalist / Select item on tab keydown

In Internet Explorer 11, the <datalist> element is supported, but it has some limitations compared to other browsers. By default, Internet Explorer 11 does not support selecting an item from the <datalist> using the tab key. Instead, the tab key simply moves the focus to the next element on the page.

To enable the behavior of selecting an item from the <datalist> using the tab key, you can use JavaScript to handle the key events and simulate the selection behavior. Here's an example of how you can achieve this:

HTML:

htmlCopy code
<label for="myInput">Choose a fruit:</label>
<input type="text" id="myInput" list="fruits" onkeydown="handleKeyDown(event)">
<datalist id="fruits">
  <option value="Apple">
  <option value="Banana">
  <option value="Orange">
  <!-- Add more options as needed -->
</datalist>

JavaScript:

javascriptCopy code
function handleKeyDown(event) {
  if (event.key === 'Tab') {
    // Get the input element and the datalist
    var input = document.getElementById('myInput');
    var datalist = document.getElementById('fruits');

    // Get the value entered in the input
    var inputValue = input.value.trim().toLowerCase();

    // Find the corresponding option in the datalist
    var option = Array.from(datalist.options).find(function(opt) {
      return opt.value.toLowerCase() === inputValue;
    });

    // If an option is found, set it as the value of the input and prevent default tab behavior
    if (option) {
      input.value = option.value;
      event.preventDefault();
    }
  }
}

In this example, we use the onkeydown attribute to attach the handleKeyDown function to the input element. When the user presses the tab key while focused on the input, the function checks if the entered value matches any of the options in the datalist. If a match is found, the value of the input is set to the matched option, and the default tab behavior is prevented.

Please note that this is a workaround for enabling the tab key selection behavior in Internet Explorer 11. In modern browsers that fully support the <datalist> element, the tab key selection is supported by default. Additionally, Internet Explorer 11 has reached the end of its support life, and it's recommended to use modern browsers for better support and security.

Always consider the browser compatibility and limitations when using HTML5 features and provide fallbacks or alternative solutions when needed.