Listing all the names starting with a perticular letter

[James Workmen]

I want to populate a drop down box with a list of all the names from database starting with same a letter the user types in using javascript.

For ex when the user enters 'a' then the drop down box should have
'Abel'
'Abiba'
'Acacia'
'Asair'

Next when the user enters 'ab', the list should only show names starting with 'ab' ie,

'Abel'
'Abiba'

How do I do that?
Thanks

[Eric Pascarello]

http://codingforums.com/showthread.php?t=9865

[James Workmen]

Thanks Eric. Instead of hard coding the values in the HTML file, I would like to query the database for the names. I am using the struts framework
and what is the best way to do it. I mean, should I hit the database every time the user enter each character or... I am not sure what's the best way.. Can anyone suggest please.

[Eric Pascarello]

One way to look at it is like this, each time you hit the database the page has to reload, meaning there will be a big lag time each time you type a letter. My 2 Cents: It will be better to have all of the names listed, plus it is cutting on bandwidth/memory on the server.

[James Workmen]

Thanks Eric. One last question, if my database is huge, lets say I have 10,000 names, performance wise is it still a good to get all the names in one go or is there any other alternative...

Thanks

[Eric Pascarello]

You are going to have to test it out and see how it works, 10,000 names is a lot of inforamtion that has to be added to the page!

Hopefully someone else might propose somethig to you!

[James Workmen]

No no, there are 10,000 names in the database, but I only have to access the names starting with the letter the user enters.
But lets say I only have 100 names in the database, I guess I can acces them all in one go and send it over to the JSP and then sort through using the JavaScript to populate the names stating with a perticular letter, Right?