How to Prevent Autocomplete from Showing Only the Selected Value after Selection in React Hook Form?

Are you tired of dealing with Autocomplete components that insist on showing only the selected value after selection in your React Hook Form? Do you want to display the entire list of options, even after the user makes a selection? You’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll explore the solutions to this common issue and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to prevent Autocomplete from showing only the selected value after selection in React Hook Form.

What’s the Problem?

When using Autocomplete components with React Hook Form, you might encounter a frustrating issue: after the user selects an option, the Autocomplete component only displays the selected value, hiding the rest of the options. This behavior can be confusing and limiting, especially if you need to allow users to select multiple options or display additional information.

But fear not! We’ll dive into the reasons behind this behavior and provide you with practical solutions to overcome it.

Why Does Autocomplete Show Only the Selected Value?

The reason Autocomplete shows only the selected value after selection is due to its default behavior. By design, Autocomplete components are meant to provide a filtered list of options based on the user’s input. Once a selection is made, the component assumes the user is only interested in the chosen option and hides the rest of the list to declutter the interface.

However, this behavior can be problematic when you need to display additional information or allow users to select multiple options. Fortunately, there are ways to customize the Autocomplete component to meet your specific requirements.

Solution 1: Using the `free Solo` Prop

One of the easiest ways to prevent Autocomplete from showing only the selected value is by using the `freeSolo` prop. This prop allows the user to enter custom values that aren’t present in the options list.

import React from 'react';
import { Controller, useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { Autocomplete } from '@material-ui/lab';

function MyForm() {
  const { control, handleSubmit } = useForm();
  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    console.log(data);
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
      <Controller
        name="myAutocomplete"
        control={control}
        render={({ onChange, value }) => (
          <Autocomplete
            freeSolo
            options={['Option 1', 'Option 2', 'Option 3']}
            getOptionLabel={(option) => option}
            onChange={(event, newValue) => {
              onChange(newValue);
            }}
            value={value}
          />
        )}
      />
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
}

By setting `freeSolo` to `true`, the Autocomplete component will allow users to enter custom values and display the entire list of options, even after selection.

Solution 2: Using the `open` Prop

Another way to prevent Autocomplete from showing only the selected value is by using the `open` prop. This prop allows you to control the Autocomplete component’s open state programmatically.

import React from 'react';
import { Controller, useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { Autocomplete } from '@material-ui/lab';

function MyForm() {
  const { control, handleSubmit } = useForm();
  const [open, setOpen] = React.useState(true);
  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    console.log(data);
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
      <Controller
        name="myAutocomplete"
        control={control}
        render={({ onChange, value }) => (
          <Autocomplete
            open={open}
            options={['Option 1', 'Option 2', 'Option 3']}
            getOptionLabel={(option) => option}
            onChange={(event, newValue) => {
              onChange(newValue);
            }}
            value={value}
          />
        )}
      />
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
}

By setting `open` to `true`, the Autocomplete component will remain open, displaying the entire list of options, even after the user makes a selection.

Solution 3: Using a Custom Render Function

A more advanced approach to prevent Autocomplete from showing only the selected value is by using a custom render function. This allows you to have complete control over the Autocomplete component’s rendering.

import React from 'react';
import { Controller, useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { Autocomplete } from '@material-ui/lab';

function MyForm() {
  const { control, handleSubmit } = useForm();
  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    console.log(data);
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
      <Controller
        name="myAutocomplete"
        control={control}
        render={({ onChange, value }) => (
          <div>
            {value && <span>Selected value: {value}</span>}
            <ul>
              {['Option 1', 'Option 2', 'Option 3'].map((option) => (
                <li key={option}>
                  <a
                    href="#"
                    onClick={(event) => {
                      event.preventDefault();
                      onChange(option);
                    }}
                  >
                    {option}
                  </a>
                </li>
              ))}
            </ul>
          </div>
        )}
      />
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
}

By using a custom render function, you can display the entire list of options and provide additional information or functionality as needed.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored three solutions to prevent Autocomplete from showing only the selected value after selection in React Hook Form. By using the `freeSolo` prop, the `open` prop, or a custom render function, you can customize the Autocomplete component to meet your specific requirements.

Remember, when working with Autocomplete components, it’s essential to understand the default behavior and the various props and customization options available. By doing so, you can create intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that provide the best possible experience for your users.

FAQs

• What is React Hook Form?

  React Hook Form is a popular library for managing forms in React applications. It provides an easy-to-use API for handling form state, validation, and submission.

• What is Autocomplete?

  Autocomplete is a UI component that provides a list of suggestions based on user input. It’s commonly used in search bars, dropdowns, and other input fields.

• Why is Autocomplete showing only the selected value?

  By design, Autocomplete components show only the selected value after selection to declutter the interface and provide a better user experience. However, this behavior can be problematic in certain scenarios, which is why we’ve provided solutions to customize it.

Solution	Description
Using the `freeSolo` prop	Allows users to enter custom values and displays the entire list of options.
Using the `open` prop	Programmatically controls the Autocomplete component’s open state, allowing you to display the entire list of options.
Using a custom render function	Provides complete control over the Autocomplete component’s rendering, allowing you to customize the display of options and additional information.

We hope this article has helped you overcome the issue of Autocomplete showing only the selected value after selection in React Hook Form. If you have any further questions or need additional guidance, feel free to ask in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Question

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