A combo box is a commonly used graphical user interface

Graphical user interface

In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...

 widget (or control)

Widget (computing)

In computer programming, a widget is an element of a graphical user interface that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such as a window or a text box. The defining characteristic of a widget is to provide a single interaction point for the direct manipulation of a given...

. It is a combination of a drop-down list

Drop-down list

In computing with graphical user interfaces, a drop-down list is a user interface control GUI element , similar to a list box, which allows the user to choose one value from a list. When a drop-down list is inactive, it displays a single value. When activated, it displays a list of values, from...

 or list box and a single-line textbox

Text box

A text box, text field or text entry box is a kind of widget used when building a graphical user interface . A text box's purpose is to allow the user to input text information to be used by the program...

, allowing the user to either type a value directly into the control or choose from a list of existing options.

Combo boxes are typically applied to provide autocomplete

Autocomplete

Autocomplete is a feature provided by many web browsers, e-mail programs, search engine interfaces, source code editors, database query tools, word processors, and command line interpreters. Autocomplete involves the program predicting a word or phrase that the user wants to type in without the...

 or autotype

Autotype

Autotype is a function in some computer applications or programs, typically those containing forms, which fills in a field once you have typed in the first few letters...

functionality in a convenient way to the user.

Terminology

The term "combo box" is sometimes, incorrectly, used to mean "drop-down list". This distinction between "combo box" and "drop down list" is sometimes clarified with terms such as "non-editable combo box" (or something similar).

External links

• List and Combo boxes for Microsoft Access