what is widget called?

Does anyone know if there is a name for the widget described below?

It looks like a regular multiple selection box (<select>.) The user clicks or tabs into the box and types in some text. The widget takes the user to the entry beginning with those characters through JavaScript. Normally, browsers support this for the first character. For example, you type "O" in a list of states to go to Ohio. This widget extends that functionality to support multiple characters.

Note: this is different than a combobox in that it doesn't have a corresponding text field.

I can not access the forum from work where I know the code exists so I can not get a direct link!

On http://www.codingforums.com they have a "post a script" forum. Do a search for something like "continuous dropdown" or something like that. If you can not find it, I will find the link tonight when I get home.

Eric

I've heard that function called "type ahead". I think that's MS's term for it, so it may have a different name on the web.

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

Eric

Thanks Eric. I guess it doesn't have a name other than "type the first few characters."

For anyone who sees this in the future, the widget is called an "multi-stroke auto-select combo." The direct link to the example Eric mentioned.

I know this thread is old, but I want to add this as a note to myself:

Firefox & IE 7 provide this functionality out of the box. The only thin missing is to display what has been typed in so far in the info bar.