What is Combobox?

A combobox, also known as a drop-down list or combo box, is a user interface control that combines an input/text field with a drop-down list. It allows the user to either type a value directly into the input field or choose from a list of preset options in the drop-down menu.

Comboboxes help save space in the UI by consolidating a text input and menu into a single control. They allow rapid data entry by showing a list of common responses that can be quickly selected. The drop down functionality helps guide user input by limiting values to what the application is expecting.

Common places where comboboxes are used include:

• Selecting categories/filters
• Choosing dates and times
• Picking names, locations, filenames from predefined lists
• Product variations like size, color, style

Key benefits of comboboxes:

• Saves space over separate text input and menu controls
• Limits user input errors by guiding selections
• Faster data entry with preset values
• Avoids typographic errors with predefined choices
• Dynamically filters list based on user input for large lists

Comboboxes allow more flexibility than a menu alone by allowing free-form text input in addition to selections. This hybrid control makes comboboxes a versatile option for many data entry scenarios.

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